Luxury travel vendors are increasingly accepting bitcoin and other crypto for high-end bookings, from private-jet legs to multi-week yacht charters. Firms including Flexjet-owned FXAIR now take tokens for transatlantic trips around $80,000, Virgin Voyages sells annual passes for about $120,000, and operators such as SeaDream and boutique hotel groups like The Kessler Collection have added crypto checkout options.
For merchants, crypto payments make sense at the top end: large invoices reduce the relative impact of processing costs and volatility can be managed by instantly converting receipts to fiat. For wealthy customers, paying in crypto can be an expression of status and a way to spend gains without touching traditional banking rails.
There are trade-offs. Using bitcoin to fund a private jet today could look like a poor decision if BTC continues higher — a modern echo of Laszlo Hanyecz’s 10,000 BTC pizza purchase. Conversely, some holders view current price levels (bitcoin hit a record $124,128 on Aug. 14) as a chance to lock in profits before macro shocks or new tariffs push prices lower.
Tax rules also matter. In the U.S. the IRS treats crypto as property, so spending bitcoin is a taxable disposal and can trigger capital gains. The U.K.’s HMRC follows a similar approach. That tax hit makes crypto payments more costly than using already-taxed cash in many cases.
Demand is being driven by demographics: McKinsey data cited by the Financial Times finds younger affluent travelers are boosting luxury travel spending and see crypto as a natural payment tool for exclusive experiences.
Bottom line: crypto is finding a niche at the upper end of travel, but whether it’s smart money management or a speculative splurge depends on taxes, individual goals and how long this bull cycle lasts.
Source: Financial Times. Read the original coverage for full details.