Trip.com experiments with stablecoin payments as digital dollars gain ground in travel
Stablecoins enter the global travel checkout
Shanghai based online travel group Trip.com has begun testing stablecoin payments for some overseas users, marking a notable step in the gradual integration of digital assets into mainstream commerce. The company is allowing eligible customers to pay for prepaid hotel and flight bookings using the US dollar pegged stablecoins USDT and USDC. The move reflects growing global acceptance of stablecoins as a practical payment method rather than a purely speculative instrument.
Limited rollout focused on overseas users
According to a Trip.com customer service agent, the stablecoin payment option was enabled on October 9. It appears selectively for users in certain regions when they book prepaid travel products through the company’s international platform. This suggests a controlled trial rather than a full scale launch, allowing Trip.com to test demand, technical performance, and regulatory considerations before expanding access. By limiting the feature to prepaid bookings, the company is also managing risk while assessing how stablecoins function within existing payment workflows.
Why stablecoins appeal to travel platforms
Stablecoins such as USDT and USDC are designed to maintain a steady value by being pegged to the US dollar. For international travel platforms, this offers clear advantages. Cross border payments often involve currency conversion fees, settlement delays, and banking frictions. Stablecoins can reduce these costs while enabling faster settlement, particularly for users in regions with limited access to international payment infrastructure. For travellers, paying with dollar linked tokens can provide price clarity and reduce exposure to exchange rate volatility.
A signal of broader crypto normalisation
Trip.com’s experiment highlights how stablecoins are increasingly viewed as functional digital cash rather than fringe crypto products. While cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin remain volatile, stablecoins have found practical use cases in payments, remittances, and online commerce. Their growing adoption by established companies signals a shift toward normalisation, especially in sectors that rely heavily on international transactions. Travel, with its global customer base and complex payment flows, is a natural testing ground.
Operating within a complex regulatory environment
The move is particularly striking given China’s strict stance on crypto related activity. Authorities in Beijing have maintained tight controls over cryptocurrency trading and related services on the mainland. Trip.com’s stablecoin option is limited to overseas users and its international platform, reflecting careful compliance with domestic regulations. This separation allows the company to explore innovation abroad without challenging regulatory boundaries at home.
Reported by blockchain focused media
The development was first reported by Chinese blockchain focused outlet Foresight News, underscoring the growing attention paid to how large technology firms engage with digital assets. While Trip.com has not framed the move as a major strategic shift, its quiet rollout suggests a pragmatic approach to experimentation rather than public promotion.
Implications for the travel and payments industry
If the trial proves successful, it could encourage other global travel platforms to consider stablecoins as an alternative payment option. This would increase competition among payment providers and potentially accelerate the adoption of digital currencies in everyday commerce. However, wider rollout will depend on regulatory clarity, user demand, and the ability to integrate stablecoins securely at scale.
A cautious step toward digital finance integration
Trip.com’s stablecoin test does not signal a wholesale embrace of crypto, but it does show openness to selective innovation. By offering USDT and USDC for prepaid bookings, the company is exploring how digital dollars can enhance user experience in cross border travel. As stablecoins continue to gain acceptance globally, such experiments may become more common, gradually reshaping how international payments are made.
