Blockchain is steadily finding its place in the travel industry, creating new ways for people to capture and share their journeys. American Express is adding to this shift by offering card members a tool that enriches how they remember trips. Through Amex Passport, customers can collect digital stamps, designed as NFTs, that represent the countries or regions they have visited. These stamps function as lasting digital souvenirs, giving travel memories a permanent and modern form.
Members receive digital stamps whenever they travel abroad and make in-person payments with their American Express card.
Each stamp includes the following details:
Travelers can personalize their stamps with notes about memorable meals, activities, or attractions from their trips. These personal touches are not recorded on the blockchain but can be shared with family, friends, or on social media, turning the stamps into both private keepsakes and shareable mementos.
American Express based the initiative on insights from a survey of travelers. Findings showed that 73% of respondents wanted more digital ways to celebrate previous journeys, while 56% missed the custom of collecting physical passport stamps. These figures suggest strong interest in new formats for travel memorabilia.
Luke Gebb, Executive Vice President at Amex Digital Labs, explained that “Part of the magic of travel is reminiscing about past getaways, and commemorative keepsakes are a powerful way for travelers to relive their favorite trips.” He said, “As physical passport stamps continue to disappear, Amex Passport creates an opportunity for Card Members to celebrate their travels.”
The Amex Passport project reflects a wider trend where cryptocurrency and blockchain are steadily intersecting with tourism. Earlier this year, the travel service Travala integrated cryptocurrency payment methods into more than 2.2 million hotel listings on Trivago.
A report from Binance Pay and Travala in May indicated that travelers using digital currencies for bookings tended to spend considerably greater amounts than those paying with traditional money.
Additional data from Triple-A, published in February, reported that airlines accepting cryptocurrency saw reservations rise over 40%. The same report noted that 14% of all digital currency transactions recorded in 2024 were directed toward travel and hospitality. Together, these statistics highlight the growing relevance of blockchain and crypto within the travel space.
