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Bhutan recently partnered with Binance Pay and DK Bank to launch the world’s first national tourism crypto payment system. This milestone decision will allow all tourists traveling to the Kingdom of Bhutan to pay for almost every aspect of their trip with crypto, including airfares, hotels and tour guides. Some 100 merchants in the country have already partnered with DK Bank, including small-scale artisans and vendors in remote areas, which will now be able to offer their customers a completely cashless and cardless checkout experience. “We are excited to partner with Bhutan as we are not only advancing the use of cryptocurrencies in travel, but also setting a precedent for how technology can bridge cultures and economies,” said Richard Teng, CEO of Binance.
In this article, we take a closer look at the new tourism crypto payment system launched by the so-called “kingdom of happiness”, how the strategy forms part of a broader global trend to incorporate crypto payments into national finance, and the solutions for non-Bhutanese merchants looking to integrate seamless crypto payments.
Bhutan’s new tourism crypto payment system
The Kingdom of Bhutan, often referred to as “the kingdom of happiness” for its commitment to measuring Gross National Happiness (GNH), embraces a national philosophy rooted in the Buddhist concept of the “middle way”, the pursuit of balance over extremes. This often translates into policies that prioritize the overall well-being and happiness of its citizens over solely focusing on economic growth. In line with this philosophy, the government’s decision to introduce a new tourism crypto payment system offers a wealth of benefits to local merchants and retailers, even in rural areas, allowing them to expand their client base and accept payments safely, quickly and more cost-effectively.
The new crypto payment system will allow international tourists to pay for travel-related services, such as accommodation, local tours, local purchases, transport and even visas. Tourists will be able to pay in over 100 cryptocurrencies including BNB, BTC, and USDC, which will all be settled in Bhutanese via DK Bank, eliminating volatility risk, currency conversion fees and card acceptance challenges. DK Bank, the country’s first fully digital bank and licensed by the Royal Monetary Authority, aims to provide accessible financial services to all Bhutanese society, particularly those previously underserved by traditional financial rails. According to Damcho Rinzin, Director of Bhutan’s Department of Tourism, “This is more than a payment solution; it’s a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and convenience.”
A global trend towards crypto integration
Over the past year, institutions and governments across the globe have begun to investigate and even roll out crypto-focused and crypto payment strategies. Most notably, in March 2025, the U.S. government under the Trump administration established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve with an aim to “harness, not limit, the power of digital assets for our prosperity”. For other cryptocurrencies held by the U.S. government other than bitcoin, it has also established a United States Digital Asset Stockpile to securely manage the seized assets in their possession. More recently, the Dubai government also announced plans to accept crypto payments for public service fees. The agreement, signed with Crypto.com, enables Dubai government service users, which includes many businesses, to pay for government service fees with large-cap coins.
Elsewhere, in Sweden, the Swedish Democrats have sparked a conversation about integrating cryptocurrency, specifically bitcoin (BTC), as a national reserve asset. MP Dennis Dioukarev, a member of the Riksdag, and MP Rickard Nordin, sent a letter to Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson, asking whether “the government [would] allow the Riksbank to include bitcoin in Sweden’s currency reserves?” In Panama City, local residents are now able to do so following the capital’s decision to accept crypto payments for taxes in BTC, ETH, USDT, and USDC, as well as other municipal charges such as fees, permits, and tickets. These developments reflect a growing shift toward legitimizing and integrating crypto payments as a mainstream option.
Integrate seamless crypto payments
Just as the Kingdom of Bhutan has enabled local merchants and retailers to accept crypto payments seamlessly, our crypto payment gateway offers the same crypto-to-fiat payment flow for merchants around the world. There are currently over 659 million cryptocurrency users globally, who are drawn to digital currencies due to their convenience, speed, security, transparency and borderless operability. ForumPay provides merchants with direct access to these crypto consumers, with our wallet-agnostic, free-to-install and user-friendly solution. ForumPay can be seamlessly integrated into both online and in-person payment systems, as well as offering a proprietary dedicated ForumPay PoS device.
With ForumPay, developers can now also embed ForumPay within an app for seamless in-app payments, helping to increase conversions by maintaining a single-environment payment flow. We can also enable recurring billing with our newly launched subscription plans. Merchants can define key parameters such as subscription amount and billing cycle (both unlimited) directly from the Merchant Dashboard, and maintain real-time visibility over active, cancelled, and terminated subscriptions. They receive webhook notifications regarding any changes to subscriber status, while ForumPay sends subscribers proactive reminder emails (sent seven, three, and one day before renewal) to maintain engagement.
For more on crypto trends and insights, to start accepting crypto payments with ForumPay, or to speak to a member of the team, visit www.forumpay.com.
