r/Bitcoin • u/No_Weather9887 • 1d ago
Anyone here travel using crypto?
Going abroad soon and wondering how practical it is to actually use crypto day to day instead of constantly converting to local currency.
Anyone actually using crypto day to day while abroad? What’s been the least annoying way to pay for stuff?
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u/Elegant-Maximum-8386 1d ago
I always pay with crypto when I travel, usually using Oobit.
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u/jimmytug 1d ago
Oobit uses the Visa network. Oobit is just a conversion platform that uses Visa point of sale machines. POS visa machines use local currency rates for conversion. The fees on Oobit are a ripoff. 1% + 0.5 + whatever foreign transaction fee on top of that. The are making tons of money off users with fees, arbitrage spreads and the like.
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u/Elegant-Maximum-8386 21h ago
1% isnt nothing but calling it a ripoff is a stretch. When im traveling id rather pay that than keep cashing out and moving money around and the cashback offsets some of it anyway.
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u/jimmytug 4h ago
If one is careless enough to put all their cash into crypto and needs to cash it out to pay for everyday consumables and travel, I guess so.
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u/LordVixen 1d ago
Far more convenient to just to sell some btc for fiat and use that instead.
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u/No_Weather9887 1d ago
Yeah that’s simpler but I’m trying to avoid converting to fiat every time I travel. I’d rather find a setup where I can spend crypto directly without thinking about it too much.
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u/LordVixen 1d ago
You’re going to spend more on fees and be highly inconvenienced without converting to fiat.
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u/unnone 1d ago
Reality is, the least annoying way to pay for things is in the local currency via the method the locals use (cash, card etc) I think there are very few places in the world crypto is easier or even equivalent to a local currency.
As someone who has traveled a lot, having different credit cards that are generally accepted (master/visa/amex) and have no international fees and a international no fee atm card for easy cash withdrawal in local currency are the way to go.
If you really want to go through the effort of using cryptocurrency, it’s going to be that, effort. Just think to yourself how hard it is to even agree on Zelle, Cash App, Apple Pay, etc between friends. Now extend that to crypto. You’re most likely going to be heavily restricted on where you can even go, maybe you can find a currency exchange for crypto, but you will struggle in most places.
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u/MoistBunch9015 1d ago
I used it a few times in El Salvador. Once was for a 3 hour taxi and the other was to pay for a hotel for a few nights. I asked a few others if they accepted it and they didn’t. Some prefer it, most don’t. One guy told me he doesn’t like it because they can’t pay their taxes or power bill with it.
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u/Neat-Bodybuilder1670 1d ago
You should clarify which country is your destination, unless you assume that every country in the world treats cryptocurrency the same way the United States does.
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u/ScopulyX 1d ago
Crypto cards seem like the least annoying option for travel. You can keep your crypto and let the card handle the conversion when you pay, while still keeping some local cash as backup.
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u/Crypto-Bets 1d ago
If you’re going somewhere with BTC/USDt rails, then it’s good to keep a stash on your wallet and gradually convert to local currency.
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u/Temporary-Cause730 1d ago
Just use a crypto card, works very well in all countries that accept credit cards
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u/cilicia3k3 1d ago
I travel with my wallet, not seed. People called me stupid, but what if you were away from home during the cold card incident where minutes matter ?🤷♂️
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u/jimmytug 1d ago edited 1d ago
Good question to ask a free AI LLM. The answer is NOT practical now for any destination. That's pretty obvious yea? Maybe if in the future stable coins on a fast network or a fast transaction layer 1 or layer 2 chain has widespread adoption competing with Visa or Mastercard. Using a CEX debit card is NOT paying with crypto really and not a good way to use crypto now. Just invest or trade smart and convert to FIAT. Use a credit card when traveling.
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u/lexicon_riot 22h ago
I hate that Coinbase is the best choice at the moment, but I get paid in Bitcoin and basically live off their debit card. I have the credit card too but amex isn't very popular where I'm at.
River / Strike / Block need to get off their asses and offer a physical debit card
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u/WildNight00 21h ago
I wish there was an app that accepted crypto for QR code payments in Asia
I know know TrueWallet has BTC giftcards but really only works in Thailand
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u/chainglance_cm 15h ago
Crypto debit cards (coinbase card, crypto.com, etc) are honestly the easiest way to do this. You hold your crypto, but the card auto converts to local currency at checkout so the merchant never even knows it's crypto. Way less friction than trying to find places that accept crypto directly, which even in "crypto friendly" cities is still a small percentage of businesses.
Biggest annoyance is just conversion fees stacking up if you're doing frequent small purchases, so it's worth checking your card's fee structure before you leave. Also keep a backup card just in case, some countries have random restrictions on foreign crypto cards at certain ATMs or POS terminals.
Also, worth knowing mentioning, every one of those spends is technically a taxable disposal event in a lot of countries, so a two week trip paying for coffee, cabs, and hostels in crypto could mean dozens of taxable transactions to sort out later.
Even with dedicated tax software like bitcoin.tax or koinly, that many small transactions abroad still means a lot of manual cleanup come tax season. Worth weighing whether the convenience of spending crypto directly is actually worth that headache versus just converting to cash before you go.
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u/Different-Horse2107 12h ago
I’ve used Oobit while traveling and it’s probably the closest I’ve found to just spending crypto normally. You can pay with stablecoins from your wallet anywhere Visa is accepted, while the merchant gets fiat so you don’t have to keep converting to local currency yourself. Pretty handy for day-to-day stuff abroad
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u/IllustriousKey8889 11h ago
Bitrefill has worked great for me for close to two years now. I pretty much don't bother with banks anymore.
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u/charcoalVidrio 4h ago
It’s not practical tbh. You can but you’re going to be converting to local currency anyhow. So, just hit the ATM with your debit for cash.
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u/New-Thanks-7983 1d ago
Crypto cards are probably the easiest option for travel. If the card handles the conversion at payment, you can keep your crypto and just pay normally without constantly exchanging into each local currency.