Japan's SBI Bank to Convert Deposit Interest into $BTC, $ETH, and $XRP

SBI Shinsei Bank Pilots Crypto Interest Conversion

SBI Shinsei Bank is set to launch a pilot program on June 10, giving customers the option to automatically convert their fiat deposit interest into one of three digital assets: $BTC, $ETH, or $XRP. The move marks a first for a major Japanese commercial bank, connecting conventional savings accounts with direct digital asset exposure in a single, automated step.

Rather than requiring customers to manually transfer funds to an exchange, the program routes interest payments directly into the chosen cryptocurrency. The product is significant because it frames crypto accumulation as a passive rewards feature rather than a trading activity. The pilot targets everyday savers who want low-friction exposure to digital assets without actively managing trades.

Part of a Broader SBI Crypto Push

The deposit interest program is the latest in a series of moves by SBI Group to embed digital assets into mainstream financial products. SBI VC Trade completed a merger with Bitpoint Japan in April 2026, consolidating two of Japan's licensed exchanges. SBI has placed $XRP into several financial products aimed at shareholders, bond investors, and banking users, with six listed subsidiaries, including SBI Shinsei Bank, set to distribute $XRP rewards to eligible shareholders.

SBI VC Trade handles the crypto custody and conversion engine, while Aplus, a subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank, manages the underlying financial infrastructure. SBI Holdings owns roughly 9% of Ripple, making the inclusion of XRP a strategic statement. The SBI-Ripple partnership dates to 2012 and has produced initiatives including SBI Ripple Asia, which adopted Ripple's On-Demand Liquidity solution for cross-border remittances, with SBI Remit becoming the first Japanese company to use $XRP for overseas transfers in 2021.

SBI is layering crypto rewards across savings products, bonds, and payments. The deposit interest pilot now extends that logic deeper into core retail banking, with potential implications for how Japanese consumers think about the return on their everyday savings.

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