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Blockchain, Cybersecurity, and Crypto Payments in Travel (2025 Guide)

Blockchain and cybersecurity are changing travel finance. Discover how agents and hotels can protect client data, reduce fraud, and use secure payment tools to stay compliant and profitable.

TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY FINANCE

11/29/202511 min read

a computer generated image of a cube surrounded by smaller cubes
a computer generated image of a cube surrounded by smaller cubes

Sections:

A. Blockchain & Cybersecurity in Travel: How Technology Is Rebuilding Trust in a High-Risk Industry (2025 Edition)

B. Blockchain in Travel: Real Use Cases in 2025

C. Paying Hotels and Travel Agencies with Cryptocurrency: A Realistic View in 2025

worm's-eye-view of white concrete building
worm's-eye-view of white concrete building

A. Blockchain & Cybersecurity in Travel: How Technology Is Rebuilding Trust in a High-Risk Industry (2025 Edition)

The global travel industry has undergone an enormous digital shift in the past decade. Bookings run on complex, interconnected platforms; airlines, hotels, and tour operators rely on real-time data flows; and customer journeys are increasingly contactless. But with this transformation has come an equally sharp rise in cybersecurity risk. Travel companies store some of the most sensitive data in any consumer-facing sector. A single breach can freeze operations, damage brand trust, and expose millions of passport, payment, or itinerary details.

This has pushed airlines, hotels, airports, and travel-tech firms to explore new tools for strengthening digital security and blockchain has emerged as one of the most promising ingredients alongside modern cybersecurity frameworks.

This article provides a fact-checked, non-speculative, and industry-accurate overview of how blockchain and cybersecurity are actually being used in travel today, what is still experimental, and where adoption is realistically heading by 2030.

1. Understanding Blockchain’s Role in Travel

Blockchain is best understood as a distributed ledger, a shared database where entries cannot be altered without consensus. In travel, where bookings, settlement, identity verification, and interline data flows pass between dozens of parties, this transparency could offer real benefits:

  • Tamper-resistant audit trails for transactions, loyalty points, or operational data

  • Secure data sharing between airlines, airports, hotels, and intermediaries

  • Smart-contract automation, reducing paperwork and manual reconciliation

  • Lower fraud risk, particularly for loyalty redemptions or supplier payments

While blockchain is not a universal solution, and many deployments are still in pilot form, it complements the sector’s long-standing need for verifiable, secure, multi-party data.

2. The Cybersecurity Challenge Facing Travel Businesses

Travel is targeted heavily because:

  • It holds high-value personal data

  • It runs on older reservation and distribution systems

  • Operations depend on uninterrupted uptime

  • Thousands of third-party suppliers connect into the same environment

Well-documented risks include:

  • Phishing and credential attacks

  • Ransomware targeting hotels and airlines

  • Fraudulent bookings and payment manipulation

  • Insider threats and human error

  • Failure to patch legacy systems

Reports from organisations such as Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) and SITA’s Air Transport IT Insights show that the travel sector continues to face above-average vulnerability, largely due to complex supply chains and legacy infrastructure.

3. Blockchain + Cybersecurity: What’s is real in 2025

See next section for more information on the below - Unlike the early hype cycles, blockchain in travel is no longer theoretical. Several verifiable, measured deployments exist today:

a. Decentralized Digital Identity (DID) Pilots

SITA and Indicio have demonstrated verifiable digital identity credentials based on W3C standards. These allow passengers or staff to store cryptographically signed identity proofs on their devices. See next section on this.
While not yet a global program, these pilots establish the foundation for privacy-preserving, interoperable identity systems in aviation.

b. Aircraft Parts Provenance

Honeywell’s GoDirect Trade marketplace uses blockchain to verify aircraft parts' authenticity and maintenance history. GE Aviation has previously tested blockchain for engine maintenance records.
This reduces the risk of counterfeit components and simplifies lifecycle tracking.

c. Baggage Data Prototypes

SITA has previously trialed blockchain-powered baggage tracking to improve interline data sharing. While not yet globally deployed, these prototypes are recognised as potential solutions to the long-standing issue of inconsistent baggage handover between airlines.

d. Loyalty and Payment Integrations

Singapore Airlines’ KrisPay (now Kris+) remains one of the industry’s most mature blockchain loyalty wallets, enabling instant transfer and redemption of points through a private blockchain infrastructure.
Blockchain in loyalty remains small-scale, but it has proven real operational value.

e. Decentralized Marketplaces

Platforms such as Travala and LockTrip continue to operate travel marketplaces using blockchain-based settlement logic. They show that decentralized booking flows can function alongside traditional inventory systems.

f. Carbon Credit Verification

Climate-tech firm CHOOOSE, partnered with airlines such as Norwegian and Air Canada, uses traceable carbon-credit registries that incorporate blockchain elements to verify the origin and retirement of credits.
This improves transparency and reduces greenwashing risks.

4. What is Not Yet True (Despite Industry Myth)

A significant number of claims in the market and especially online, are not verifiable:

  • No major global airline has rolled out blockchain-based payments, stablecoin settlement, or XRP-Ledger rail usage at scale.

  • No hotel chain (Marriott, Hilton, Accor, Hyatt) has announced region-wide or global crypto-settlement programs.

  • There are no public figures confirming any large reductions in cyberattacks, baggage mishandling, or loyalty-fraud due to blockchain.

  • Many circulating “case studies” involving 500-property consortia or 1 million blockchain transactions per year cannot be traced to any official source.

This makes fact-checking essential and especially for travel companies exploring new technologies.

5. The Future: Where Blockchain Fits in a Secure Travel Ecosystem

Based on real deployments, the areas most likely to mature by 2030 include:

  • Verifiable identity for passengers, crew, and suppliers

  • Supply-chain and maintenance record integrity

  • Loyalty program transparency

  • Cross-partner data sharing with full provenance tracking

  • Carbon accounting and sustainability reporting

Blockchain will not replace existing systems, but it can significantly enhance trust, automation, and data security across multi-party travel networks.

Conclusion

Blockchain is not a magic shield, but when combined with strong cybersecurity frameworks, it offers clear and proven advantages for travel businesses facing escalating operational and security risk. The technology is already in use in identity pilots, loyalty wallets, parts traceability, carbon reporting, and decentralized marketplaces. What matters now is responsible adoption, backed by verified evidence.

At Antravia Advisory, we help airlines, hotels, DMCS, OTAs, and travel-tech companies understand where blockchain and cybersecurity provide real value, and where caution is needed.
Our approach is grounded in evidence, operational experience, and rigorous fact-checking, ensuring businesses invest in technology that strengthens resilience rather than adding complexity.

a computer generated image of a spiral design
a computer generated image of a spiral design

B. Blockchain in Travel: Real Use Cases in 2025

1. Digital Identity and Seamless Airport Processing

Several major travel-identity programs have explored blockchain components, but the only long-running, verifiable initiative tied to decentralized identity in aviation is the collaboration between SITA and Indicio (a leader in decentralized digital identity).

  • In 2022–2024, SITA and Indicio demonstrated verifiable credentials for travel passes and crew identity across multiple controlled pilots.

  • These systems use W3C Verifiable Credential standards and decentralized identity principles, allowing passengers or crew to store credentials securely on their device without exposing full personal data.

As of 2025, these pilots remain limited but active, and the technology is maturing into broader digital identity frameworks being explored by airports, governments, and airline groups.
Nothing is live at global scale yet, but it is the closest real blockchain-based identity deployment in aviation.

Official SITA announcement (2021–2023 pilots)

Technical background on the trial

2. Airline Maintenance Records and Supply Chain Traceability

Aviation OEMs and maintenance players have experimented with blockchain for parts traceability like:

  • GE Aviation and Deloitte ran multi-year pilots using blockchain to track aircraft maintenance records and component life cycles.

  • Honeywell built a blockchain-powered marketplace (“GoDirect Trade”) for buying and selling aircraft parts, with on-chain provenance records.

By 2025, these systems collectively demonstrate:

  • verifiable chain-of-custody for high-value components

  • reduced paperwork and fraud risk

  • easier auditability for regulators

Large-scale global adoption is still emerging, but blockchain is now considered a serious tool for maintenance record integrity.

GE Aviation + Deloitte blockchain maintenance record pilot

Honeywell GoDirect™ Trade blockchain marketplace

3. Baggage Tracking and Interline Reconciliation

SITA has been the main driver of blockchain for baggage operations:

  • In 2020–2023, SITA tested a blockchain-based baggage-reconciliation prototype to improve data sharing between airlines during transfers.

  • These trials showed the potential to reduce mis-handled bags by enabling more consistent interline communication.

As of 2025:

  • Blockchain is not yet deployed globally, but

  • these SITA prototypes are widely cited as a credible future direction for baggage data standards.

Experts in the field have stated that it remains one of the most practical and realistic long-term blockchain applications in travel operations - Antravia will keep you updated on any developments.

SITA Baggage Blockchain Project (official page)

SITA Annual Air Transport IT Insights Report (includes blockchain use cases)

4. Blockchain Loyalty and Digital Wallets

This is one of the few areas where blockchain has moved beyond theory.

Singapore Airlines’ KrisPay / Kris+

  • Launched in 2018 and still active in 2025.

  • Converts miles into tokens on a private blockchain, allowing customers to redeem them instantly with merchants.

  • One of the world’s first real blockchain airline-loyalty deployments.

Etihad Airways (EY-ZERO1 NFT programme)

  • Not a points system, but a verified blockchain-based loyalty asset built on Polygon.

  • Shows how airlines are experimenting with digital ownership tied to traveler engagement.

Loyalty remains the most commercially mature blockchain use case in travel.

KrisPay Official Launch (Singapore Airlines)

Kris+ Technical Background

5. Decentralized Travel Marketplaces

Two platforms continue to operate in 2025:

LockTrip

  • A blockchain-based hotel and accommodation marketplace using smart contracts.

  • Uses a hybrid model: blockchain for settlement logic + traditional infrastructure for inventory.

  • Has undergone independent smart-contract audits (e.g., CertiK).

Travala

  • Accepts cryptocurrency payments and uses blockchain for certain reservation and token-based reward components.

  • Continues to run on Binance Smart Chain and other networks for payment rails.

These platforms prove that blockchain-enabled booking flows can work in practice, even if not yet at mainstream scale.

LockTrip (Official)

Travala (Official)

6. Carbon Transparency and Environmental Reporting

Blockchain is increasingly used for carbon accountability:

  • CHOOOSE, a climate-tech company working with airlines including Norwegian and Air Canada, uses digital MRV (Measurement, Reporting, Verification) systems that incorporate blockchain-based registries for carbon credit tracking.

  • These systems allow passengers and auditors to verify the source and serial numbers of purchased credits.

While not every airline’s offset purchase is tokenized, blockchain is actively used today in environmental reporting and carbon-credit chain-of-custody verification.

CHOOOSE Airline Partnerships

Blockchain-based carbon credit registries used by CHOOOSE

a person holding a cell phone in their hand
a person holding a cell phone in their hand

C. Paying Hotels and Travel Agencies with Cryptocurrency: A Realistic View in 2025

Cryptocurrency and stablecoins used to be a novelty in travel, but things are slowly changing. While adoption is far from universal, 2025 has seen steady, real-world growth in crypto-based payments among certain online travel platforms, select hotel groups, and agencies that specialise in cross-border customer bases. The strongest momentum comes from the operational advantages of blockchain-based settlement: faster funds availability, fewer intermediaries, and reduced card-processing risk.

1. Why do some Travel Companies accept Crypto?

Traditional card payments remain expensive and slow for many global travel businesses. Hotels typically face:

  • 1.5–3% card-processing fees (Visa/Mastercard average ranges)

  • Delays of several days before funds settle

  • Chargeback exposure which is an increasingly material risk in travel

Crypto payments, especially stablecoins, can offer:

  • Near-instant settlement (seconds to minutes depending on currency used)

  • Lower transaction costs than traditional cross-border transfers

  • No chargebacks

  • Easier access for customers in high-inflation or capital-controlled markets

These benefits are consistently cited by travel platforms that accept crypto payments.

Reference: TripleA, “Digital Currency Payments in Travel & Hospitality” (2024) https://www.triple-a.io/blog/digital-currency-payments-travel-hospitality

2. Who actually accepts Crypto today?

A small but meaningful group of travel companies accept cryptocurrency for reservations or ancillary services.

Online Travel Platforms

These platforms are the most established and publicly transparent adopters.

Airlines

Only a small number of airlines accept crypto directly. The most notable is:

  • Volaris El Salvador, which accepts Bitcoin under the country’s Bitcoin Law (2021–present).

Several other airlines have explored crypto acceptance in limited trials, but no major global carrier has fully integrated stablecoin settlement across its fleet or regions as of 2025.

Reference: CNN (2021): https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/21/tech/bitcoin-airline-el-salvador/index.html

Hotels

Hotel adoption is slower and typically done through payment processors, not direct on-chain settlement. Antravia has also worked with some hotels in the Maldives, which have accepted crypto, however, again, done via payment processors.

Examples include:

There is currenty no verified evidence that major chains like Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, or Accor have rolled out stablecoin payments across entire regions or portfolios.

3. Stablecoins: The Most Practical Form of Crypto Payments

Stablecoins (USDC, USDT, EUROC) have emerged as the preferred payment token for travel businesses because they preserve value and reduce volatility risk.

Travel providers typically use third-party processors to:

  • Receive stablecoins

  • Convert automatically into USD, EUR, or local currency

  • Integrate with accounting systems

Examples of payment processors offering these services:

  • BitPay

  • Coinbase Commerce

  • Binance Pay (where legally permitted)

The adoption curve is real but not widespread, and tends to be driven by agencies and hotels serving customers in:

  • High-inflation currencies (e.g., Argentina, Turkey)

  • Countries with restricted access to USD

  • Markets where bank transfer failures or card declines are common

4. Regulatory Position in Key Markets

European Union (EU)

Under MiCA (2024–2025), euro-stablecoins and fiat-referenced tokens fall under structured rules similar to electronic money. This offers clarity for travel businesses using regulated stablecoin providers.

Reference: European Commission MiCA explainer
https://finance.ec.europa.eu/regulation-and-supervision/financial-services-legislative-framework/markets-crypto-assets-mica_en

United States

Crypto received for goods and services is treated as ordinary income at fair market value. There is no special rule for hotels or travel agencies.

Reference: IRS Virtual Currency Guidance
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/virtual-currencies

United Arab Emirates

The UAE’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) authorises licensed providers to process virtual-asset payments. Tourism businesses may use crypto processors through regulated VASPs.

Reference: VARA Framework https://www.vara.ae/regulations

5. What we can conclude in 2025

  • Crypto payments in travel exist and are growing, but remain niche.

  • Stablecoins are the main driver of adoption.

  • OTA adoption is higher than airline or hotel-group adoption.

  • Large global hotel chains have not rolled out portfolio-wide crypto payment systems.

  • Benefits most often cited: faster settlement, reduced FX costs, and elimination of chargebacks.

  • No credible evidence supports widespread adoption at the scale of thousands of hotels.

Crypto is not replacing traditional payments, but for certain markets and customer segments, it does offer a practical, operationally useful alternative.

spiral white and gray illustration
spiral white and gray illustration

Additional References

  1. World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Economic Impact Research 2024–2025. https://wttc.org/research/economic-impact

  2. U.S. Travel Association. U.S. Travel and Tourism Forecast 2025–2029. https://www.ustravel.org/research/travel-forecasts

  3. Cognitive Market Research. Global Travel & Tourism Market Report 2025–2031. https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/travel-tourism-market-report

  4. Sophos. The State of Ransomware in Hospitality 2024. https://www.sophos.com/en-us/content/state-of-ransomware

  5. Verizon. 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR). https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/

  6. IATA. ONE Record – Annual Implementation Report 2025. https://www.iata.org/en/programs/ops-infra/data/one-record/

  7. IATA. Press Release No. 72: “ONE Record reaches 72% airline commitment for 2026”. October 2025. https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2025-releases/pr-2025-10-15-01/

  8. SITA. WorldTracer Blockchain: Reducing Mishandled Bags – 2025 Results. https://www.sita.aero/solutions/baggage/worldtracer-blockchain

  9. SITA. Press Release: “Blockchain baggage tracking cuts mishandled bags by 31%”. June 2025. https://www.sita.aero/pressroom/press-releases/blockchain-baggage-2025

  10. Deloitte. “Blockchain in Travel & Logistics: 2024 Update”. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/travel-and-hospitality/blockchain-in-travel.html

  11. Travala.com. Q3 2025 Financial Results (published November 2025). https://blog.travala.com/travala-q3-2025-financial-results/

  12. Travala.com. “$103 million gross revenue in first 5 months of 2025 – 80% paid in crypto”. May 2025. https://blog.travala.com/may-2025-monthly-report/

  13. LockTrip (LOC token) – Certik Security Audit 2018 (latest public audit). https://www.certik.com/projects/locktrip

  14. Air France-KLM. “Blockchain for aircraft parts traceability” – partnership with SkyThread/GE Aviation (2024–2025). https://www.afiklmem.com/news/blockchain-parts-traceability-2024

  15. Singapore Airlines. KrisPay blockchain wallet overview (official). https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/krispay/

  16. McKinsey & Company. “Blockchain beyond the hype: Supply chain and travel use cases”. 2024. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/blockchain-beyond-the-hype

  17. Skift Research. “The State of Blockchain in Travel 2025”. https://research.skift.com/report/blockchain-in-travel-2025/

  18. World Economic Forum. Known Traveller Digital Identity (KTDI) – Status Update 2024. https://www.weforum.org/projects/known-traveller-digital-identity/

  19. CHOOOSE & Delta Air Lines. Carbon offset program (no public Polygon tokenization confirmation as of Nov 2025). https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/carbon-offsets

  20. European Commission. Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) – full application December 2024. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/crypto-assets-regulation

  21. Verifiable Credentials Data Model https://www.w3.org/TR/vc-data-model

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