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Every day, the boundaries of what crypto can achieve are pushed further. Now, an entirely new frontier has opened for digital payments… space tourism. Travelers have been able to enjoy crypto payments for tourism for some time now, but this recent move from Jeff Bezos’s company, Blue Origin, marks yet another milestone for the industry. Blue Origin, which has so far taken 75 passengers past the Kármán Line, has recently expanded its payment options to allow customers to pay for trips into space in cryptocurrencies and stablecoins through a crypto payment processor. This is not the first time blockchain has moved beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, but it is the first time crypto users will be able to leverage their digital assets to travel just as far.
In this article, we look deeper into Blue Origin’s decision to accept crypto payments for space tourism, how it reflects the growing legitimacy of digital assets, and ForumPay partners that accept crypto payments for luxury travel and experiences.
Crypto payments for space tourism
The realm of crypto payments for tourism and travel is far from uncharted. For several years, travel companies, hotels and even regional governments have been planning and onboarding systems that allow travelers to pay for their holidays using digital assets. From Emirates and Vueling to AirBaltic, many airlines have already made the move to accept payments in crypto from their customers. ForumPay’s own partner, Haute Jets, also allows high-paying customers to hire private charters and pay in crypto. However, Blue Origin’s decision to accept digital assets takes crypto, and their clients, one step further. The company now enables customers to book seats aboard its New Shepard suborbital rockets through a crypto payment processor using a range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and stablecoins such as USDT and USDC.
The decision represents a solid expansion of crypto utility into ultra‑luxury, high‑value transactions. The luxury sector is experiencing high demand for crypto payments from high-net-worth clients, as attested to by ForumPay partner, Knightsbridge Circle. New Shepard tickets typically set clients back some six to seven figures, placing the company in the direct sights of high-end experience seekers. Drawn to crypto for its efficiency, privacy, transparency and 24/7 international transactions, these clients increasingly expect the option to transact in digital assets for everything from private jets to fine art. By extending this flexibility to space travel, Blue Origin responds directly to that demand and positions crypto as a legitimate currency for the most exclusive frontiers of human experience.
ForumPay and crypto payments for luxury travel and tourism
At ForumPay, our partners range from small retailers to global concierge clubs, each one keen to offer their customers a modern, transparent, efficient and convenient way to pay using digital assets. For example, in the private aviation sector, our partnership with Haute Jets allows clients to charter from a fleet of more than 3,500 jets worldwide and pay seamlessly in any major cryptocurrency. The appeal for high-net-worth individuals lies in the speed and convenience of the booking process, as well as the privacy and discretion that decentralized payments provide.
Knightsbridge Circle is another ForumPay partner meeting exacting client expectations with our crypto payment processor. Known as the “world’s most exclusive concierge club”, Knightsbridge Circle now enables its members to pay in crypto for everyday arrangements and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. ForumPay’s wallet- and crypto-agnostic platform is fully compatible with members’ assets while eliminating volatility risk through instant fiat conversion. Managing Director, Hannah Westaway, has reported how more and more members are using crypto and are thrilled that Knightsbridge Circle has chosen to onboard this payment method, allowing them to “transact in the way that they want to”.
Finally, our partnership with HumanTouch System has brought crypto payments seamlessly into the hospitality industry. Based in Milan, HumanTouch System developed EZCharge, a comprehensive guest management and payment platform now integrated with ForumPay. Hotels and restaurants using the system can accept payment in crypto as easily as they would card payments, followed by instant confirmation and settlement in fiat the next business day. For merchants, this eliminates volatility concerns and reduces risks like chargebacks, while for guests it offers greater choice, privacy, and convenience.
The growing legitimacy of crypto payments
Crypto payments are being celebrated by governments and institutions the world over. From Donald Trump’s GENIUS Act, to the Thai government’s initiative to accept crypto as payment from tourists visiting the country, digital assets are being embraced as tools for economic growth, innovation and consumer engagement. For these institutions, crypto represents both an opportunity to diversify revenue streams and a way to appeal to a new generation of consumers who expect modern, borderless and frictionless ways to pay.
Such acceptance is helping to legitimize crypto payments in the eyes of the general public who are perhaps unaware of the benefits digital assets can provide everyday consumers. As legitimacy increases, so will demand. Merchants that have chosen to accept crypto payments will be ideally positioned to respond to this demand and offer forward-thinking customers a way to leverage their digital assets.
For more information about secure, transparent and compliant payments using our crypto payment processor, or to book a meeting with our team of crypto payment experts, visit www.forumpay.com.
