Airbnb is Embracing Crypto Payments This Year
Airbnb, the popular accommodation-booking platform, may start accepting cryptocurrency payments this year.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky shared a list of customer requests on Twitter, with enabling crypto payments ranking first.
Chesky stated in his post that his company is already working on most of the customer suggestions, while promising to investigate others. Recently, a number of consumer brands have begun accepting cryptocurrency payments for certain goods and services. The majority of these pro-crypto brands are based in the United States.
Chesky stated in his Twitter thread that if Airbnb does begin to accept crypto payments, the company will be open to a variety of token concepts.
Got 4,000 suggestions. Here are the top 6:
1 – Crypto payments (top suggestion)
2 – Clear pricing displays
3 – Guest loyalty program
4 – Updated cleaning fees
5 – More long-term stays & discounts
6 – Better customer serviceAlready working on most, will look into others now! https://t.co/rxEM4BXZci
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) January 5, 2022
*Crypto payments is inclusive of a variety of token ideas
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) January 5, 2022
Chesky’s tweet was retweeted hundreds of times and received thousands of likes. People who commented on the post suggested that Airbnb start accepting Bitcoin, Shiba Inu, and Ethereum.
This is not the first time Chesky has acknowledged that Airbnb customers are eagerly awaiting a crypto payment option.
During an interview in September 2021, the 40-year-old billionaire stated that people on the platform have been requesting crypto payments for years.
Recently, a restaurant called Crypto Street Restaurant in the US state of Florida announced that it would accept payments in all cryptocurrencies.
AMC Theatres in the United States has added support for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash payments. In addition, the brand will begin accepting booking fees in Shiba Inu tokens.
Big newsflash! As promised, many new ways NOW to pay online at AMC. We proudly now accept: drumroll, please… Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin. Also Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal. Incredibly, they already account for 14% of our total online transactions! Dogecoin next. pic.twitter.com/a7pqYBm7HB
— Adam Aron (@CEOAdam) November 12, 2021
On the other hand, the vast majority of brands around the world are wary of accepting crypto payments.
Several governments around the world are debating how to regulate the crypto sector, fearing that crypto assets will be used to facilitate illegal activities.
As of now, only El Salvador in Central America has accepted Bitcoin as legal tender.
