It looks like Airbnb users will soon be able to pay for booking using crypto.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky revealed on Wednesday that crypto payments are the top feature users are asking for from the home rental platform in 2022.
January 2, Chesky tweeted to its 400,000+ subscribers asking “If Airbnb could launch anything in 2022, what would it be?”
Two days later, it posted a list of the top six suggestions out of nearly 4,000 responses. At the top of the list were “crypto payments”.
Other requested features that the CEO took note of included clear price displays, a guest loyalty program, updated cleaning fees, longer stays and discounts, and better customer service.
“Like the travel revolution, there is clearly a revolution underway in crypto,” he added.
One of the users who requested crypto payments said crypto made it easier for him to pay in countries like Argentina that block international payments. cheeky replied to the tweet saying, “We’re looking into this.”
This is not a new request from Airbnb users. In September 2021, Chesky said fox business that crypto payments have been in constant demand. He also highlighted his relationship with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who was once a technical product manager for Airbnb. Armstrong now heads the largest crypto exchange in the United States.
In December 2020, Airbnb went public in what was one of the biggest US IPOs of the year and raised $3.5bn (£2.6bn) for the ‘company.
Airbnb in its prospectus had mentioned crypto as one of the essential components of its success, in addition to new authentication technologies, such as biometrics, distributed ledger and blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality and cloud technology.
While specifically confirming that Airbnb is investigating commercial spaces, the CEO noted that Airbnb operates an online marketplace in the travel industry.
According to its website, there are currently over 5.6 million listings worldwide. Since its launch in 2007, Airbnb has served over a billion customers and more than 4 million hosts have listed their properties on the platform.
“The key is when ordinary people understand how new technology has improved their lives, beyond the initial excitement. I’m really excited about some apps that ordinary people could use to live a better daily life,” Cheskey said when talking about crypto in the past.
Where can I pay with crypto?
Airbnb may be considering payments via cryptocurrency, but several other companies in the UK are already ready to take your digital coin.
As confidence in the likes of Bitcoin grows around the world, many retailers are integrating it as a possible payment method.
And while the UK hasn’t filled up El Salvador on cryptocurrencies yet, you may be surprised where it will be accepted.
Here are the five best places to spend your digital money:
whole foods
One of the first major retailers to start accepting cryptocurrency, Whole Foods has been accepting Bitcoin since 2019.
Microsoft
No surprise here, the tech giant will let you use Bitcoin to pay for a variety of its services – like Xbox Live.
Lush
Despite completely ditching social media, Lush isn’t keeping up when it comes to technology. Through a partnership with Bitpay.com, it accepts crypto payments through its website.
Etsy
While Etsy as a whole doesn’t allow crypto (yet), there’s nothing stopping individual sellers from allowing you to pay for your arts and crafts with digital money.
Expedia
Yes, if you wish, you can book your hotel room with Bitcoin.
Airbnb has recorded payments worth $336bn (£248bn) since 2013 and currently accepts Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal as payment methods.
If Airbnb takes on the popular suggestion, it will join the ranks of Tesla and AMC, among others, in accepting crypto as payment.
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