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By Shaurya Malwa|Edited by Parikshit Mishra
Jul 9, 2025, 12:16 p.m.
- Japanese credit card users can now convert loyalty points into cryptocurrency through SBI VC Trade and APLUS.
- Cardholders can redeem points for bitcoin, ether, or XRP, with 2,100 points equating to over 2,000 japanese yen worth of tokens.
- This initiative marks the first time cryptocurrency has been included in the APLUS prize catalog, reflecting Japan’s advanced regulatory compliance in the crypto space.
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
, 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.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
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.
Shaurya is the Co-Leader of the CoinDesk tokens and data team in Asia with a focus on crypto derivatives, DeFi, market microstructure, and protocol analysis.
Shaurya holds over $1,000 in BTC, ETH, SOL, AVAX, SUSHI, CRV, NEAR, YFI, YFII, SHIB, DOGE, USDT, USDC, BNB, MANA, MLN, LINK, XMR, ALGO, VET, CAKE, AAVE, COMP, ROOK, TRX, SNX, RUNE, FTM, ZIL, KSM, ENJ, CKB, JOE, GHST, PERP, BTRFLY, OHM, BANANA, ROME, BURGER, SPIRIT, and ORCA.
He provides over $1,000 to liquidity pools on Compound, Curve, SushiSwap, PancakeSwap, BurgerSwap, Orca, AnySwap, SpiritSwap, Rook Protocol, Yearn Finance, Synthetix, Harvest, Redacted Cartel, OlympusDAO, Rome, Trader Joe, and SUN.
