What happened?
Emirates Airlines from Dubai announced a partnership with Crypto.com, expecting to introduce cryptocurrency payments starting in 2026, responding to young travelers' preferences for digital payments.
Although the applicable items and currencies have not been explicitly revealed, according to official information, Crypto.com currently supports payments in over 20 types of cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies.
The Dubai government is actively building a hub for virtual assets, promoting many cryptocurrency payment policies. Emirates Airlines is aligning with local policies to implement cryptocurrency payments, changing the lifestyle of residents.
Emirates Airlines plans to support cryptocurrency payments
After initially revealing the intention to introduce Bitcoin payments in 2022, Emirates Airline has finally taken the first step.
The company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the cryptocurrency exchange platform Crypto.com, planning to support cryptocurrency payment functions from 2026, providing travelers with more diverse payment options.
According to an official statement, Emirates Airlines' collaboration with Crypto.com aims to 'respond to the changing payment preferences of customers,' especially targeting the younger, tech-savvy generation accustomed to using digital currencies.
'Partnering with Crypto.com showcases our commitment to digital innovation. We look forward to expanding our customer base through cryptocurrency payments and continuing to provide a convenient and innovative payment experience,' said Adnan Kazim, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Airlines, in a statement.
Currently, both parties have not disclosed specific products or services that will accept cryptocurrency payments, nor have they revealed which currencies will be supported. However, according to the official website of Crypto.com, its payment system 'Crypto.com Pay' currently supports over 20 cryptocurrencies as settlement options, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as fiat currencies such as USD and EUR.
Echoing Dubai's 'cashless payment' strategy
The city of Dubai, which facilitated this collaboration, is also noteworthy; Dubai has actively promoted the development goal of becoming the 'capital of virtual assets', aiming to become one of the most attractive hubs for the global cryptocurrency industry.
In 2022, Dubai established the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and introduced comprehensive regulations and supporting measures in the DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre), attracting over 650 cryptocurrency companies.
Not only financial and technology companies, but the Dubai government has also taken the lead in adopting cryptocurrency payments, such as using digital assets to pay for tuition, transportation fees, and even purchasing real estate. In May of this year, Crypto.com also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dubai Ministry of Finance, allowing the public to use cryptocurrencies to pay for government service fees, echoing the city's 'cashless payment' strategy.
Emirates Airlines is not the only airline adopting cryptocurrency payments; another listed company, Air Arabia, announced in May this year that it would allow passengers to use the AE Coin stablecoin, backed by the Emirati Dirham (AED), to purchase tickets.
Additionally, Latin American airlines Viva Air and Mexico's Volaris have conducted tests for Bitcoin payments.
According to announcements from Emirates Airlines and Crypto.com, both parties will soon launch a joint marketing campaign to expand market acceptance of the new features. This collaboration is expected to demonstrate that after cities establish regulatory frameworks and companies are willing to adopt innovative tools, cryptocurrency payments will no longer be just a 'hyped topic,' but rather become essential infrastructure that changes lives.
Source: Decrypt, Reuters
More Reports
Automakers are also using 'DePIN'! Volkswagen introduces Hivemapper to enhance self-driving capabilities.
Rumors suggest payment giant Stripe will enter L1, what new applications are worth looking forward to?
