07/05/2025
Breaking - 𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺
Bhutan is pioneering the future of travel by becoming the first nation to implement a national-level crypto payment system for tourism.
Bhutan's innovative mechanism allows travelers with Binance accounts to experience cashless journeys. In collaboration with Binance Pay and Bhutan’s digital DK Bank, this initiative offers travelers using Binance Pay a seamless, secure, and flexible end-to-end payment experience.
More than 100 merchants are now live with DK Bank and Binance Pay.
The Binance app offers a smooth, international, and safe cryptocurrency payment function called Binance Pay that lets users and merchants send, receive, and pay for cryptocurrency anywhere in the globe without paying gas fees. It serves 32,000 merchants and over 40 million active users with support for more than 300 cryptocurrencies. Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world by trading volume and registered users, is trusted by more than 270 million users in more than 100 countries.
From booking flights to purchasing fresh fruit from roadside vendors, visitors can enjoy the convenience and efficiency of digital transactions throughout their journey.
This innovative model allows Binance Pay users to pay for nearly every part of their Bhutan journey using supported crypto-currencies. This includes airline tickets to Bhutan, tourist visa and Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), hotel bookings, tour guides, monument entry fees, local shopping, among others — all settled quickly and securely through static QR code payments.
Bhutan - the ‘Kingdom of Happiness’ prioritizes Gross National Happiness (GNH) focusing on sustainability, cultural preservation, and societal well-being.
According to a press release from the Gelephu Mindfulness City team, this collaboration with Binance Pay and DK Bank further helps in harnessing digital innovation to enhance travel experiences, empower local communities, and unite tradition with technology.
Local settlement is powered by DK Bank, Bhutan's first totally digital bank. All societal levels, particularly the underserved and unbanked, can receive smooth, safe, and convenient financial services from DK Bank, which is licensed by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan.
Some of the key highlights of this system includes: seamless experience with use of crypto for all travel related expenses; integrated system across immigration, travel agents, hotels, guides and retail; inclusive reach enabling vendors in remote areas to accept QR code payments; supported by Bhutan’s digital bank; relatively cheap fee with no gas fees; immediate crypto-powered transactions; accepts over 100 crypto-currencies (BNB, BTC, USDC); and a secure transaction that features encrypted transactions with real-time confirmations via Binance application.
Richard Teng, the chief executive officer of Binance, said that the company is excited to partner with Bhutan advancing the use of crypto-currencies in travel but also setting a precedent for how technology can bridge cultures and economies. “This initiative exemplifies our commitment to innovation and our belief in a future where digital finance empowers global connectivity and enriches travel experiences."
Damcho Rinzin, the director of the Department of Tourism, called this partnership more than a payment solution. “It’s a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and convenience.”
“It enables a seamless experience for travellers and empowers even small vendors in remote villages to participate in the tourism economy,” he said.
Sustainable tourism development and promotion in Bhutan are under the purview of the country's Department of Tourism. Under the tenets of high-value, low-volume tourism, it seeks to introduce conscientious tourists to the Kingdom's destinations, inhabitants, and experiences.
