Bitbank has partnered with EPOS Card to launch Japan’s first crypto credit card that settles monthly bills from exchange-held bitcoin. EPOS Card is the fintech arm of retail giant Marui Group. The card, called the EPOS Crypto Card for Bitbank, runs on Visa’s network and is now available to Bitbank customers in Japan.
How the Bitbank card works
The core feature is exchange-settled bill payment. Instead of linking a bank account to clear monthly credit card charges, users can have their bills automatically deducted from the bitcoin they hold on Bitbank. The exchange applies the prevailing rate on payment day. Users keep assets invested until a bill falls due.
For now, bitcoin is the only accepted asset for bill payments. Bitbank and EPOS say they plan to extend this to additional cryptocurrencies, though no timeline has been set. The card works at any Visa merchant globally. New cardholders also receive a one-time welcome bonus of 2,000 yen (roughly $12.50) deposited in crypto.
The setup suits long-term bitcoin holders who prefer to keep funds invested until a payment is actually due. Rather than liquidating early or transferring assets out of the exchange, users can let their crypto sit and only convert when a bill needs clearing. The card also gives users exposure to bitcoin price appreciation right up until payment day.
Crypto cashback in BTC, ETH, and ASTR
Beyond bill settlement, the card pays 0.5% crypto cashback on monthly spending. Users choose to receive rewards in bitcoin, ether, or Astar (ASTR), a token tied to Japan’s Astar Network, a blockchain platform focused on smart contracts and decentralized applications. Rewards land directly in the user’s Bitbank account each month, keeping everything in one place.
The cashback rate is modest by credit card standards, but the format is the differentiator. Instead of points or airline miles, users accumulate digital assets with each purchase, and those assets stay on the exchange.
Japan’s crypto card market picks up pace
Bitbank is not the first to go down this road. Binance Japan launched its own card in January, giving users a way to earn BNB from card spending. The two products take different approaches, though. Binance’s card focuses on earning a native token; Bitbank’s centers on settling bills from exchange-held assets.
That is a meaningful distinction. Settling credit card charges directly from an exchange balance tightens the link between crypto custody and everyday spending. Reward-only cards earn users crypto on the side; this card uses crypto to pay the bill itself.
Seetan Kitney, President and CEO of Visa Worldwide Japan, said the company was “pleased that this marks another important step in connecting cryptocurrencies with the everyday payment experience.” He added that “new options such as payments and rewards using cryptocurrencies will become more accessible to more people.” Visa plans to continue working with issuers to expand access.
Japan has historically been one of the more tightly regulated crypto markets in the world. Two crypto credit cards have now launched in Japan within months of each other. It signals that local firms are finding workable ways to bring digital assets into mainstream financial services.
