You can travel around the world using only stablecoins! Foreign media measured tourism in 5 major countries
Want to travel the world but only want to pay with cryptocurrencies?
As the adoption of global cryptocurrencies continues to increase, foreign media (Cointelegraph) conducted an interesting experiment to try whether it is possible to complete a trip abroad with stable currency payment. It turns out that through some platforms and crypto-friendly stores, everything from booking flights to accommodation to food shopping can be done with stablecoins!
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to assets such as the U.S. dollar or gold. Their prices are relatively stable, making them ideal for traveling abroad. Compared with other cryptocurrencies with volatile prices, stablecoins provide travelers with a safer way to store and transfer value.
Crypto Journey Itinerary Planning: What You Need to Do First
Before embarking on your crypto journey, complete planning is required.
You first need to open an account at a cryptocurrency exchange, and after completing identity verification (KYC), you can purchase stablecoins such as $USDC or $USDT.
Next, you need to set up a cryptocurrency wallet. You can choose hot wallets such as MetaMask or Trust Wallet, or cold wallets (Ledger, Trezor) to store stable coins.
After completing these preparations, you can start planning your trip!
How to use stablecoins to book flights and add wine?
(Cointelegraph) said that if you want to use stable currency to book flights and accommodation, you can choose a travel service platform such as Travala that supports cryptocurrency payment. The platform supports over 60 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ripple ($XRP), and Solana ($SOL).
The booking process is quite simple: after selecting a destination and date, payment can be completed by scanning a QRCode or transferring stablecoins to a designated wallet address. Please note that if a refund is required, it will be credited back to the Travala account in the form of travel points.
(CryptoCity) Actual testing shows that flights from Taiwan to Japan can also be searched on Travala. The website has a simplified Chinese translation and supports multiple cryptocurrency payments.
We’ve introduced Travala before:
Is the tourism revolution coming? Travala deeply integrates Solana to create a new encryption ecosystem for the future!
Source: Travala The Travala platform provides international travel flights and wine services, and supports cryptocurrency payments.
Practical arrangements for crypto travel itineraries: New York to Singapore
(Cointelegraph) has carefully planned a journey across North America, Europe and Asia. Let’s take a look at how you can pay with stablecoins in various places!
First stop, New York, USA: In this international metropolis, you can shop at Gucci, use stablecoins to buy gift cards and dine at chain restaurants such as Starbucks and Subway.
Second stop: Toronto, Canada: This Canadian financial city has a rich crypto ecosystem. You can play board games at Snakes & Lattes, stay at Urban Living Suites, and buy warm handmade sweaters at Gogo Sweaters.
Third stop: Edinburgh, Scotland: Although there are fewer merchants here that directly accept crypto payments, you can buy gift cards through CoinGate and use them to take Uber or shop on Amazon.
Fourth stop: Amsterdam, the Netherlands: In this city of canals, you can rent bicycles from Starbikes or join a canal cruise to enjoy the city scenery leisurely.
Fifth stop: Singapore: As Asia’s financial center, there are many merchants here that accept stablecoin payments. From buying bags at Charles & Keith, enjoying delicious food at Uchu Wasi, to taking Tada’s ride-hailing service, you can easily do it all.
Source: Cointelegraph Planning for overseas travel based on stablecoins and cryptocurrencies
Can stablecoins become mainstream in international tourism?
As of the second quarter of 2024, stablecoin transaction volume reached $8.5 trillion, more than twice Visa’s transaction volume during the same period, showing that stablecoin adoption is growing rapidly.
There are many advantages to using stablecoins for travel, such as not having to worry about exchange rate fluctuations, low handling fees, and fast transfer speeds, etc. However, there are still some challenges, such as limited acceptance by merchants and different regulatory requirements in various countries.
As the world becomes more accepting of digital payments, the ability to travel around the world without touching physical currency may become the norm in the future.
However, if you want to travel purely with stablecoins, you still need to plan your route carefully and choose crypto-friendly countries and reliable platforms.
Further reading:
Stablecoins are leading the payments revolution! a16z: How can the advantages of low cost and high speed subvert finance?
"You can travel around the world using only stablecoins!" Foreign media actually tested how you can book flights and wine to teach you how to travel to 5 major countries. This article was first published in "CryptoCity"
