Japan's SBI to Let Users Swap Credit Card Points for Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP

Credit card users in Japan can now convert their loyalty points into crypto. Major conglomerate SBI Group's APLUS is letting cardholders redeem APLUS points for small amounts of bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), or XRP (XRP).

2,100 points will earn users over 2,000 japanese yen worth of tokens, around $13 at current exchange rates. The crypto is handled by SBI’s exchange arm and deposited directly into the user’s VC Trade account.

The feature is opt-in and available only for cards that qualify under the APLUS Points program.

Although a relatively small amount, it marks the first time cryptocurrency has been added to APLUS’s prize catalog, which previously focused on cashbacks and partner rewards.

For SBI, it’s a low-stakes way to drive user exposure without pushing speculative trading. The bank has backed Ripple for years, and XRP was the first token listed on VC Trade when it launched in 2018.

The integration matters in Japan’s heavily regulated crypto environment, signaling a level of compliance maturity that most regions still lack and offering everyday card users a glimpse of the crypto experience without the marketing blitz.