July 16, 2025

By Anjali Kochhar

Bhutan has introduced a nationwide crypto payment system for tourists, becoming the world’s first country to fully integrate digital currencies into its tourism infrastructure. Launched in May 2025, the initiative is a collaboration between the Royal Government, Binance Pay, and DK Bank, Bhutan’s first fully digital bank.

With this system, travelers using Binance Pay can spend over 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, and USDC, to cover nearly every aspect of their journey. This includes airline tickets, visa and Sustainable Development Fees, hotel stays, local transportation, tour guides, monument entry fees, and even small purchases from local vendors. Payments are made through static or dynamic QR codes, offering tourists a completely cashless and card-free travel experience.

DK Bank receives the crypto transactions and converts them instantly into Bhutanese ngultrum, protecting vendors from crypto market volatility and ensuring stable payouts. Over 1,000 businesses have already adopted the system, ranging from urban merchants to shopkeepers in remote villages, enabling broader financial inclusion even in previously underserved areas.

Damcho Rinzin, Director of the Department of Tourism, said that Bhutan’s outdated banking system was previously a major barrier for tourists. International traveler had called the old wire-transfer process inconvenient and outdated. The introduction of crypto payments not only solves that problem but also positions Bhutan as a modern, tech-friendly destination. The government is targeting 300,000 crypto-friendly tourists annually, hoping to attract a share of Binance’s massive user base.

Carissa Nimah, Chief Marketing Officer for the Tourism Department, said the initiative represents Bhutan’s evolving identity, one that blends heritage with innovation. The system is also in alignment with the country’s broader vision, including major projects like the Gelephu Mindfulness City which embraces crypto as part of its development model.

This nationwide system follows Bhutan’s earlier ventures into cryptocurrency through green Bitcoin mining powered by the country’s vast hydropower resources. The profits from these mining operations have been used to fund public services and government salaries.

With strong government backing and growing merchant participation, Bhutan’s crypto-tourism ecosystem is seen as a potential model for the future of global travel. It offers a faster, cheaper, and more inclusive way for travellers to experience the country, while also boosting the local economy. Bhutan’s bold move redefines smart tourism, showing how a small nation can lead the global conversation on digital finance and sustainable innovation.

About the author

Anjali Kochhar covers cryptocurrency and blockchain stories in India as well as globally. Having been in the field of media and journalism for over four years now, she has developed a sharp news sense and works hard to present information that goes beyond the obvious. She is an avid reader and loves writing on a wide range of subjects.