Trip.com, a global online travel platform, has officially introduced dollar-denominated stablecoin payments, expanding the real-world use of virtual assets into the travel industry. The platform now supports USDT and USDC as direct payment methods for hotel reservations and airline ticket purchases.
This move is seen as a prime example of how stablecoins are moving beyond just being a means of investment and transaction to become a payment infrastructure for real-world services. Trip.com users can now purchase global travel products using stablecoins pegged to the dollar, in addition to traditional credit card or local currency payments.
Payments are processed through multiple public blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Tron, Polygon, Solana, Arbitrum, and TON. By expanding the range of network options, fees are reduced and regional convenience is enhanced. The stablecoin payment infrastructure is managed by Triple-A, a Singapore-licensed cryptocurrency payment company.
Some countries have even reportedly launched pilot promotions offering discounts on airline tickets and hotel reservations to users who pay with stablecoins. This is interpreted as an incentive to expand the use of virtual asset payments in the travel market, where price competitiveness is crucial.
This introduction aligns with the global stablecoin market. Stablecoins have rapidly expanded into real-world applications such as cross-border remittances, payroll payments, and online payments. Unlike highly volatile virtual assets, stablecoins are pegged to the dollar, offering high price stability and faster settlement times compared to card payments.
The industry is watching closely to see whether Trip.com's decision could spread to other global platforms. Analysts predict that if major online services, such as travel, e-commerce, and content platforms, adopt stablecoin payments, the practical use of virtual assets could expand significantly. Particularly, with regulatory environments evolving in various countries, attention is focused on whether stablecoins will establish themselves as a payment method akin to "digital cash."
