London-based bitcoin card provider Wirex has raised £2.45mn from Japanese financial services group SBI Holdings to launch a contactless card that allows users to spend using both traditional currencies and bitcoins, Business Insider UK reported on 6 March.
Japan was recently named the world’s biggest market place for bitcoin, and various funds and investment banks in Japan are moving into the space. SBI’s partnership with Wirex will see the latter firm push forward with expansion plans for the Asia–Pacific region.