Bhutan has launched the world’s first national-level cryptocurrency payment system for tourism through a groundbreaking partnership with Binance Pay and Bhutan’s fully digital DK Bank. This innovative initiative will allow travelers with Binance accounts to enjoy entirely cashless journeys across the “Kingdom of Happiness.”
The system enables seamless, secure, and flexible end-to-end crypto payments for virtually all aspects of a tourist’s trip, including flights to Bhutan, visa and Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) payments, hotel bookings, tour guides, monument entry fees, and local shopping. Over 100 merchants are already equipped with DK Bank and Binance Pay, allowing visitors to use supported cryptocurrencies like BNB, BTC, and USDC via static and dynamic QR codes for immediate transactions.
Known for its focus on Gross National Happiness (GNH), Bhutan aims to blend tradition with technology through this collaboration. The initiative promises lower transaction fees compared to traditional methods (with zero gas fees) and empowers even small vendors in remote areas to participate in the tourism economy by accepting QR code payments.
Richard Teng, CEO of Binance, hailed the partnership as a precedent for bridging cultures and economies through technology. Damcho Rinzin, Director of Bhutan’s Department of Tourism, emphasized that this is more than a payment solution, calling it a “commitment to innovation, inclusion, and convenience.”
DK Bank, licensed by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, provides the local settlement mechanism, aiming to deliver accessible financial services. Binance Pay, a feature on the Binance app, supports over 300 cryptocurrencies and boasts a large user and merchant base globally.
This partnership marks a significant step in integrating cryptocurrency into the tourism sector at a national level, addressing barriers like high fees and limited merchant adoption.
