Sending money across borders has traditionally meant navigating delays, fees, and uncertainty. Digital assets are rewriting that experience. They reduce reliance on currency conversions, provide greater visibility into transactions, and drastically lower fees and settlement times.
These same advantages extend to consumers travel abroad. Bolstering inbound tourism is a key driver behind Crypto.com’s partnership with KG Inicis, a payment platform that commands roughly 40% of South Korea’s payments market.
“This is significant, plugging Crypto.com Pay into South Korea’s largest payment gateway network,” said Joel Hugentobler, Cryptocurrency Analyst at Javelin Strategy & Research. “This enables faster, cheaper cross-border transactions and it aims to boost adoption. For Crypto.com to be successful, they need to ensure smooth and seamless point-of-sale integration and user experience, in addition to working with regulators.”
“I’d imagine stablecoins will be used more than a typical cryptocurrency, but providing optionality is key at the end of the day,” he said. “From my understanding, the crypto payments will be instantly converted to KRW (South Korean won) and merchants are paid immediately in KRW. So the volatility is already removed on the back end.”
Managing Volatility
The growing demand for payment flexibility is also fueling the rise of payment gateways. Although crypto gateways initially emerged as a way to enable crypto at checkout, they have rapidly shifted into full-scale payment orchestration platforms.
This has been due in part by the expanding digital asset ecosystem—including cryptocurrencies, wallets, stablecoins, and supporting infrastructure. At the same time, crypto gateways address one of the most persistent barriers to merchant adoption: volatility.
While direct crypto gateways allow merchants to accept and hold digital assets, many prefer an indirect method in which transactions are automatically converted into fiat currency by the gateway provider.
Giving Tourism a Lift
By mitigating volatility risk, these solutions have made crypto acceptance more accessible. Although lower transaction costs, faster settlement, and enhanced security are compelling benefits, rising customer demand remains the primary driver of adoption.
According to a survey by PayPal and the National Cryptocurrency Association, merchants frequently receive inquiries about crypto payments, especially from millennial and Gen Z customers.
As younger consumers prioritize experiences—from dining to travel—integrating crypto payment options is a natural step for businesses and destinations looking to boost tourism.
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