Airbnb users clamour for crypto payment option

The option to pay with cryptocurrency is what a lot of Airbnb customers want to see established in 2022 after CEO Brian Chesky asked his Twitter followers what the accommodation app should focus on this year.

While suggestions such as clear pricing displays, guest loyalty program and more long-term stays and discounts proved popular, the advent of crypto payment options ranked as the number one idea from 4,000 suggestions.

Chesky also noted that token ideas could play a part in crypto payment options – a welcome possibility for those cryptocurrency investors with a diverse portfolio.

Airbnb currently accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa and Mastercard, with the latter having already ventured into the cryptocurrency world, offering Bitcoin rewards through crypto credit and debit cards for customers.

This isn’t the first time Chesky’s opened up about Airbnb’s apparent willingness to delve into crypto payments. Two months ago, he stated that the company was looking into it, in an interview with The Verge.

“We are definitely looking into it,” he said.

“Like the revolution in travel, there is clearly a revolution happening in crypto, Airbnb and crypto both have interesting relationships with trust.”

Airbnb rival

While Airbnb is beginning its journey into integrating cryptocurrency as a payment option for renting homes and apartments, DTravel, a decentralised home-sharing platform, made that jump during 2021.

Backed by Binance, the largest crypto exchange in the world, the platform is integrated on the Travala.com website and is governed by users holding the DTravel (TRVL) token.

With a global network of 20,000 homes, DTravel said that customers can use cryptocurrency to book 250,000 homes with the TRVL token being listed on exchanges including MEXC Global, Bybit, Gate and KuCoin.