Emirates Airlines signs a Memorandum of Understanding, expecting to launch cryptocurrency payments by the end of next year.
Emirates Airlines, headquartered in Dubai, announced on Wednesday (7/9) that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com, planning to integrate Crypto.com Pay into the airline's payment system. According to the official statement, this feature is expected to officially launch in the fourth quarter of 2025, and if successfully implemented, Emirates Airlines will become one of the first major airlines in the world to support cryptocurrency payments.
Image source: Emirates Airlines signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com.
The signing ceremony was held under the witness of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group. Adnan Kazim, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Airlines, stated that this strategic initiative aligns with Dubai's vision in the financial innovation industry while providing customers with greater transactional flexibility and choices, especially targeting the younger, tech-savvy customer base that prefers digital currencies.
A spokesperson for Crypto.com confirmed that the integration will be phased, focusing initially on technical readiness, compliance adjustments, and customer experience planning. Both parties will decide whether to launch from specific routes or regional markets, or to go for a global release directly, with a pilot phase expected before expanding the implementation scope.
Supports multiple cryptocurrencies, instant conversion of fiat currency to reduce risk.
The payment service supports over 20 different settlement options, including mainstream cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as fiat currencies like the US dollar and euro. Currently, Crypto.com Pay has been adopted by over 4,000 merchants and has more than 80 million global users.
To reduce exchange rate risks and ensure compliance, customers using cryptocurrency for payments will be instantly converted to UAE Dirhams (AED) at the real-time exchange rate at the time of the transaction.
A spokesperson for Crypto.com emphasized that Emirates Airlines will not hold any cryptocurrency on its books, and all settlements will be conducted in dirhams to ensure compliance and minimize foreign exchange risk.
Dubai actively lays out plans for a cryptocurrency center, a new trend in digital payments for the airline industry.
This collaboration is part of Dubai's strategy to become a global cryptocurrency hub. Dubai has attracted over 600 cryptocurrency companies to its multi-commodity center free zone due to its clear regulatory framework and innovation-friendly environment. Earlier this year, Crypto.com signed a memorandum with the Dubai government’s finance department, allowing the public to use cryptocurrency to pay for government service fees.
From real estate to telecommunications, all industries in the UAE have opened their doors to cryptocurrency payments. This year, Tether partnered with UAE's Reelly Tech to expand the application of its $USDT in real estate transactions, and last month, the Dubai Financial Services Authority also approved Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin.
Eric Anziani, President and COO of Crypto.com, stated that the collaboration with Emirates Airlines will bring real momentum to the digital asset industry. The company's goal is to establish a universal cryptocurrency travel layer to provide travelers with seamless, secure, and compliant payment experiences in aviation, retail, and hospitality.
As more traditional businesses accept cryptocurrency payments and the regulatory environment gradually clarifies, it is expected that more airlines will follow suit by adopting similar digital payment solutions. Emirates Airlines' innovative initiative could bring revolutionary changes to payment methods in the entire airline industry.
This content is compiled by Crypto Agent from various information sources, reviewed by (Crypto City), and is still in the training stage. There may be logical biases or information errors; the content is for reference only and should not be considered investment advice.
'Emirates Airlines teams up with exchanges! Open for crypto payments in 2026, can we pay for tickets with Bitcoin in the future?' This article was first published in 'Crypto City'.
