Imagine exploring Bhutan without carrying a single ngultrum or any cash. Now you can, thanks to a new partnership between Bhutan and Binance Pay. Launched this week, the payment system lets visitors pay using cryptocurrency, making Bhutan one of the world’s most crypto-friendly destinations. Binance Pay is a secure and borderless cryptocurrency payment feature on the Binance app, that allows users to pay, send and receive crypto globally. A group of international tourists are now putting Binance Pay to test, travelling across Bhutan using only their crypto wallets.
Max Zaharenkov, a 33-year-old Russian-British travel influencer exploring Paro, is amazed to see even remote vendors welcoming Binance Pay. He says the cashless option makes travel simpler and stress-free, calling it secure, convenient, and a real game-changer for tourists like him.
“I think it’s ten out of ten in terms of how easy it is. It’s super-fast and takes just ten to fifteen seconds. It’s easy because you don’t need to think about anything, you just put in the right amount and it’s transferred. And the best thing about crypto is that it’s fast and secure.”
He shared that he did not face any technical difficulties and prefers using Binance Pay over carrying cards and cash.
Similarly, 26-year-old Mehab Qureshi, an Indian influencer, says he would recommend Binance Pay to other tourists because of how seamless the transactions are. He has been using cryptocurrencies throughout his travels.
“I book all my flights and hotels strictly using cryptocurrencies. I am a true crypto digital nomad. Wherever I go, I make sure I spend only my stablecoins. I don’t have to convert my money into local currencies or rely on credit cards that charge me two per cent on every transaction. I don’t even have to hunt for ATMs.”
He added that Binance Pay feels safer than traditional banking because crypto is built on blockchain technology, which is highly transparent.
But not everyone is ready to go fully cashless. Terry Chen, a 34-year-old influencer from Taiwan, shared his experience of using Binance Pay for the first time in Bhutan.
“Most of the time, it’s fine. But there are some areas where the wireless connection isn’t so great. In those places, it can be pretty hard to use; it might take one or two minutes for the transaction to go through. In some areas I have tried before, it wouldn’t even go through at all. I think it’s mostly because of the internet connection. But in places where the connection is strong, Binance Pay is pretty much seamless and perfect.”
Since announcing the partnership in May, Bhutan has seen a tenfold rise in crypto-enabled merchants, from just 100 to over 1,000 businesses today.
According to a news release from the Department of Tourism, this move is part of Bhutan’s broader vision to use digital innovation to boost financial inclusion, support rural communities, and diversify tourism. The Gelephu Mindfulness City is expected to play a key role in this digital transformation.
As Bhutan blends its rich tradition with modern technology, travellers may soon need only a smartphone and a crypto wallet to explore the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
Tashi Dekar & Karma Samten Wangda
Edited by Sonam Pem
