Bhutan has taken a bold step into the future of travel by becoming the first country in the world to launch a national-level crypto payment system for tourism. In a groundbreaking partnership with Binance Pay and Bhutan’s fully digital DK Bank, the initiative offers travelers to Bhutan a seamless, secure and flexible end-to-end payment experience—from booking flights to buying fruit from roadside farmers.
This pioneering model allows Binance Pay users to pay for virtually every part of their Bhutan journey using cryptocurrencies. This includes airline tickets to Bhutan, visa and Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) payments, hotel bookings, tour guides, monument entry fees, local shopping and more—all settled quickly and securely through QR code payments.
Key highlights:
• Seamless Experience: Pay with crypto for everything—from flight tickets and visas to farmstand fruit.
• Tourism First: Fully integrated across travel agents, hotels, guides, retail and more.
• Inclusive Reach: Even small vendors in remote areas can now accept payments via QR.
• Powered by DK Bank: Bhutan’s first fully digital bank.
• Lower Fees: Significantly cheaper than traditional cards or banks, with next-day (T+1) settlements.
• Comprehensive Support: Acceptance of USDT, USDC and 300+ other cryptocurrencies.
• Secure & Instant: Encrypted transactions, 2FA and real-time confirmation via Binance app.
Richard Teng, Binance CEO, said: “Binance Pay is transforming the way people travel and transact. Our partnership with Bhutan is a milestone moment in creating borderless travel experiences powered by digital assets.”
“This is more than a payment solution—it’s a commitment to innovation, inclusion and convenience,” said Damcho Rinzin, Director of the Department of Tourism, Bhutan. “It enables a seamless experience for travelers and empowers even small vendors in remote villages to participate in the tourism economy.”
The partnership marks the first time a tourism product has accepted cryptocurrency at a national level globally. It addresses previous barriers to digital payments, such as high transaction fees and limited merchant acceptance, by offering a low transaction fee and next-day (T+1) settlements. Real-time notifications ensure transparency for both merchants and visitors.
DK Bank, Bhutan’s first fully digital bank, is powering the local settlement mechanism. Licensed and regulated by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, DK Bank brings modern technology and innovation to deliver seamless, secure and accessible financial services to all strata of society, especially those marginalized and unbanked. https://www.digitalkidu.bt/
Binance Pay is a borderless, contactless crypto payment solution with more than 300 million users globally that supports over 300 cryptocurrencies including BTC, ETH, BNB, SOL, ADA, DOGE, USDT, USDC, SHIB and more. It is accepted by thousands of merchants worldwide and is transforming how people pay, send and receive money globally. www.binance.com
