SBI VC Trade and Orient Corporation have teamed up to let Orico credit card holders turn their loyalty points into cryptocurrency. Starting July 31, 2026, users can redeem Orico Points for Bitcoin, Ether, or XRP through the VCTRADE platform. It's the first time crypto has been offered as a redemption option in the Orico Points program.
How the redemption works
Under the partnership, 1,200 Orico Points are worth ¥1,000 in crypto. Orico cards earn points at a base rate of 1.0% on spending, and new cardholders get a 2.0% rate for their first six months. The exchange handles the conversion, so users don't need to manually trade fiat for digital assets.
The move gives Japan's large Orico user base a direct on-ramp to crypto without leaving the rewards ecosystem. SBI VC Trade, a subsidiary of SBI Holdings, already offers a range of crypto services; this integration adds a loyalty-point channel to attract retail users.
Bitcoin Hyper presale passes $32.9 million
Separately, the Bitcoin Hyper project — described as the first Bitcoin Layer 2 with Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) integration — has raised $32.9 million in its presale. Staking is already live on the platform. The project aims to deliver sub-Solana latency smart contracts while relying on Bitcoin's security layer.
The presale continues as the team works toward mainnet launch. Bitcoin Hyper's approach targets developers who want Solana-like speed but prefer to build on Bitcoin's infrastructure.
Both developments this week reflect a broader push to bridge traditional finance and crypto utility — whether through loyalty points or new scaling tech. For Orico cardholders, the redemption option is live now; for Bitcoin Hyper, the next milestone will be the full network rollout.
