Zaif Card Review (2026)

The Zaif Card earns 0.8-1.2% BTC/ETH/XYM cashback on a JCB credit card with a ¥1,650 from year 2 (free year 1; waived on ¥100,000 annual spend) fee, available in Japan.

Reviewed by Card Pilled Editorial · Last verified 2026-09-13

Key Facts

Cashback
0.8-1.2% BTC/ETH/XYM
Annual Fee
¥1,650 from year 2 (free year 1; waived on ¥100,000 annual spend)
Region
Japan
Type
Credit
Network
JCB
KYC
full

Overview

Zaif is operated by Caica Exchange Inc., a Japanese crypto asset exchange registered with the Kinki Local Finance Bureau (registration 00001, the first issued under Japan's crypto exchange regime) and a member of the Japan Virtual and Crypto assets Exchange Association. The card itself is issued by Life Card Co., Ltd.

The Zaif Card is a crypto credit card offered by Zaif (Caica Exchange) x Life Card, available in Japan. It offers 0.8-1.2% BTC/ETH/XYM cashback across 2 reward tiers, giving users the ability to earn higher rates as they increase their commitment. The annual fee starts at ¥1,650 from year 2 (free year 1; waived on ¥100,000 annual spend).

Best suited for spenders who want a true credit line rather than a pre-funded crypto debit card. It runs on the JCB network and requires full identity verification.

Cashback Tiers

Zaif Card cashback tiers and requirements
TierRateRequirement
General Spending0.8%Any purchase of ¥100 or more
Zaif Platform Payments1.2%Purchases made on the Zaif exchange with the card, minimum ¥100 per transaction

Pros

Cons

Limits & Top-Up

Time to Card
About 2 weeks

Who's behind this card

Issuing bank
Life Card Co., Ltd.

Cost & Returns

On $500/mo spend, the estimated monthly cost breakdown for Zaif Card is: gas $0.00, conversion spread $7.50, flat/FX fees $0.00, and amortised card/tier fee $137.50, for a total drag of 29% of spend. After $6.00/mo cashback that is still a net cost of about $139.00/mo ($1668.00/yr). Zaif Card tops up from a centralized balance, so there is no on-chain gas cost regardless of how often you reload. Figures are conservative estimates and vary with conditions.

Note: Japan-domestic crypto rewards credit card, a partnership between Caica Exchange (Zaif) and Life Card issued on the JCB network rather than Visa or Mastercard, which is why it rarely appears in English-language comparisons. Rewards accrue as crypto paid into the holder's Zaif account: 0.8% on ordinary spending and 1.2% when the card pays on the Zaif platform itself, on transactions of ¥100 or more. The holder chooses BTC, ETH or XYM as the reward asset and can change that choice after issuance. Rewards post on a two-month lag, so January spending credits in mid-March. The first year carries no annual fee; from the second year it is ¥1,650 including tax, waived if the card was used for ¥100,000 or more in the preceding year. Issuance takes about two weeks. GAP: Life Card does not publish an FX markup or ATM cash-advance schedule specific to this card, so the standard Life Card JCB terms apply and are not recorded here.

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FAQ

What is the Zaif Card?

The Zaif Card is a crypto credit card offered by Zaif (Caica Exchange) x Life Card. It is available in Japan and allows users to spend cryptocurrency at merchants worldwide.

How much cashback does the Zaif Card offer?

The Zaif Card offers 0.8-1.2% BTC/ETH/XYM cashback. There are 2 tiers: General Spending (0.8%), Zaif Platform Payments (1.2%).

What are the fees for the Zaif Card?

The Zaif Card has an annual fee of ¥1,650 from year 2 (free year 1; waived on ¥100,000 annual spend).

Does the Zaif Card require KYC?

Yes. The Zaif Card requires full identity verification (KYC): expect to submit a government-issued ID, and often proof of address, before the card is issued.

Which countries is the Zaif Card available in?

The Zaif Card is available in Japan.

Is the Zaif Card a credit or debit card?

The Zaif Card is a true credit card, meaning you can make purchases on credit rather than needing to pre-fund the card with cryptocurrency.

Who issues the Zaif Card?

The Zaif Card is issued by Life Card Co., Ltd..

Visit Zaif (Caica Exchange) x Life Card

Want to see your annual earnings? Use the ROI Calculator to estimate net cashback at your spending level, or compare cards side by side.