SBI and Visa Bring XRP Rewards to Daily Spending With New Crypto Cards

Japanese financial giant SBI Group, one of Ripple’s biggest partners, has partnered with Visa to bring XRP rewards into everyday spending.

SBI CEO Yoshitaka Kitao highlighted the initiative in an X post yesterday, introducing two new credit cards that automatically convert reward points into XRP, alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum. 

The development marks another major step in SBI’s long-running effort to integrate crypto assets into mainstream finance. In particular, it reinforces the company’s commitment to XRP adoption in Japan, where SBI has remained one of XRP’s strongest institutional supporters.

Key Points 

• SBI Holdings partnered with Visa to launch XRP rewards credit cards in Japan. 
• The new cards automatically convert spending rewards into cryptocurrencies like XRP and Bitcoin. 
• The company launched a promotional campaign running from May 1 through May 31, 2026.  
• During the campaign, standard cardholders can earn rewards of up to 2.5%, while Gold users can receive up to 10%. 

SBI Launches Visa Crypto Cards 

According to the official announcement, SBI officially began issuing two new Visa credit cards yesterday, May 1, 2026: the SBI Visa Crypto Card and the SBI Visa Crypto Card Gold.

The standard SBI Visa Crypto Card targets customers seeking easier access to cryptocurrency investing through everyday purchases. Meanwhile, the Gold version focuses on users who want to accumulate larger amounts of cryptocurrency more efficiently.

Both cards allow users to earn reward points through regular spending. SBI then automatically converts the points into a selected cryptocurrency without charging additional fees. When applying for the card, customers can choose between XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum.

In addition, SBI highlighted a unique feature connected to SBI Securities’ investment trust savings service. Through this integration, users can automatically accumulate cryptocurrency based on their monthly investment trust savings activities. SBI described the offering as Japan’s first crypto reward system linked to credit card investment trust savings. 

SBI Launches Campaign to Drive Adoption

To accelerate adoption, SBI launched a special promotional campaign that began on May 1 and will continue through May 31, 2026. During the campaign period, standard card users can earn crypto rewards of up to 2.5%, while Gold card users can receive rewards of up to 10%.

Furthermore, Gold cardholders who spend more than 2 million yen ($12,773) annually can receive cryptocurrency rewards equivalent to the card’s annual fee. 

XRP Inclusion Stands Out

Although the card supports rewards in Bitcoin and Ethereum, the world’s two largest cryptocurrencies, the inclusion of XRP remains significant. The move further demonstrates SBI’s continued support for Ripple’s ecosystem and XRP’s long-term role in finance.

Over the years, SBI has repeatedly backed XRP and promoted Ripple’s technology as a major component of the future financial system.

Last month, SBI also entered a strategic partnership with DSRV to explore how the XRP Ledger could improve remittance flows between South Korea and Japan. In addition, the company launched a token issuance platform built on the XRP Ledger.