Bhutan has partnered with Binance Pay to launch the world's first national-level crypto-tourism payment system, enabling Binance Pay users to pay for nearly every aspect of their Bhutan journey using supported cryptocurrencies. This encompasses airline tickets, tourist visas, the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), hotel bookings, tour guides, monument entry fees, and local shopping. All transactions are settled quickly and securely through static and dynamic QR code payments.

This collaboration between Binance Pay and DK Bank aims to enhance travel experiences and empower local communities by integrating tradition with technology. Richard Teng, CEO of Binance, expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasizing its role in advancing cryptocurrency use in travel and setting a precedent for bridging cultures and economies. Damcho Rinzin, Director of the Department of Tourism, Bhutan, highlighted the initiative as a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and convenience, enabling a seamless experience for travellers and empowering even small vendors in remote villages to participate in the tourism economy.

The partnership marks the first instance of a tourism product accepting cryptocurrency at a national level, addressing barriers like high transaction fees and limited merchant acceptance by offering low transaction fees and prompt settlements. Real-time notifications ensure transparency for both merchants and visitors. DK Bank, Bhutan’s first fully digital bank licensed by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, powers the local settlement mechanism, delivering accessible financial services to all, especially marginalized and unbanked populations.

Binance Pay, a feature on the Binance app, facilitates seamless, borderless, and secure cryptocurrency payments, allowing users and merchants to send and receive crypto worldwide without gas fees. It supports over 300 cryptocurrencies and caters to more than 40 million active users and 32,000 merchants. Binance, trusted by over 270 million users across 100+ countries, is the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users. The Department of Tourism of Bhutan is dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism, sharing the Kingdom's places, people, and experiences with conscious travellers, guided by high-value, low-volume tourism principles.