With rising demand for real-time private jet bookings, growing pressure for digital efficiency, and increasing interest in crypto-friendly travel solutions, business aviation is redefining luxury mobility for a new generation of clients.
CP Media spoke to Evgeny Chuprov, who has been working in the business aviation industry for nearly 18 years, gaining experience in various areas, from private jet sharing to the development of digital solutions for the sector. Aviapages, one of his major projects, provides navigation and charter flight management services to more than 300 clients worldwide, from Australia to the United States.
Another major project co-founded by Evgeny is Mirai Flights, an app for booking private jets, with a strong focus on the European and Middle Eastern markets. It lets users book both standard charters and empty leg flights in real time, and even offers the option to pay with cryptocurrency.
Since Evgeny has spent years at the intersection of business aviation and tech, and given that we spoke during peak vacation season, the focus naturally turned to travel and everything related to it, especially in the context of the opportunities that are opening up for cryptocurrency users.
Major Trends in How the Travel Sector Embraces Cryptocurrency
Could you highlight any key trends emerging at the intersection of crypto and travel?
We’re seeing a few major trends at the crossroads of crypto and travel. First off, market dynamics play a big role. When crypto prices rise, people who hold those assets tend to travel more and spend more, too. These crypto users are a key audience for us, especially in the Middle East. Europe’s recent restrictions on USDT led to a noticeable drop in traffic from that region.
Interestingly, we’ve started receiving requests in more niche or exotic cryptocurrencies, even though USDT is still the go-to. Classic BTC remains in steady demand. At the same time, USDC is gaining popularity, particularly among European users. We’ve even processed payments in less conventional coins like SOL and DOGE. These might stem from one-off investments that paid off, and people are now using those assets for transactions.
Overall, demand for crypto payments has shifted toward Asia and the Middle East. USDC is gradually gaining traction — a year ago, its share was effectively zero, but this year it’s been steadily increasing. In that sense, regulation is shaping the market and encouraging users to become more flexible in how they approach payments.
Given this backdrop, how actively is the travel industry integrating cryptocurrency payments?
In my view, the core audience falls into two age groups: 20 to 30 and 30 to 40. These are people for whom using mobile apps is second nature.
Speaking from our own experience, we offer a unique service — the ability to make real-time end-to-end payments for flights. That’s why our app attracted a strong user base from the early stages. Among them, 30–35% use crypto for payments. These are tech-native individuals who aren’t intimidated by digital products. They see crypto as one of several assets or payment tools they can use depending on the situation, because it’s simpler, more transparent, and more convenient.
We provide a distinctive service that allows users not only to spend small amounts in crypto but also to use it for large-ticket purchases, such as yacht charters, long-haul flights, or hotel bookings. We’ve had cases involving high-value transactions in cryptocurrency. For our clients, the ability to use their assets with virtually no cap on transaction size is a key advantage.
At the same time, privacy is not a central concern in this context — when booking flights or chartering a yacht, clients are required to provide personal data anyway. We comply fully with legal requirements and conduct all necessary procedures. Our clients trust us not only with their personal information, but also with that of their colleagues and friends.
How would you describe the typical profile of today’s crypto traveler or digital nomad, for example, in terms of their needs and expectations?
It is difficult to categorize our clients as crypto tourists or digital nomads, since we operate in the luxury segment. However, among those who use cryptocurrency, we do see a group of individuals in their 30s and 40s who have already achieved a certain level of financial stability. I would not refer to them as digital nomads, though.
These are people who tend to be more spontaneous, more receptive to new services, and more open to a wide range of offerings. We provide them with curated packages, and their interest in the world runs much deeper than that of the average tourist. They usually have a higher risk tolerance, and our exclusive experiences and events resonate strongly with them.
One example is a premium Formula 1 travel package in Austria, where we arranged landing access at an airfield located right next to the racetrack. This was a unique experience, delivered by a single aviation provider. Our clients were able to land close to the venue, enjoy the race weekend, and take advantage of exclusive Ritz-Carlton offers that we coordinated in partnership with the hotel group.
People who use cryptocurrency tend to be more receptive to these kinds of unconventional and high-end experiences. Some even approach us with requests to design custom travel programs that include flights, yacht charters, and a range of other services.
Barriers to Cryptocurrency Adoption in the Travel Industry
What about those who are still hesitant to adopt cryptocurrency? In your opinion, what is holding them back?
In my opinion, there are several factors that continue to slow down the adoption of cryptocurrency more broadly. One of the main reasons is that many people are still unwilling to spend their digital assets. For some, crypto represents a long-term investment that has already generated returns, and they are not ready to liquidate it because they believe the right time hasn’t yet come. Others simply prefer to use traditional currency.
Another significant barrier involves regulation in certain jurisdictions. In regions with clear and transparent legal frameworks, such as the Middle East or the United Kingdom, people are generally more informed and less afraid to use cryptocurrency. For example, the ban on USDT in Europe did not have a negative impact on us. In fact, it brought clarity by setting clear boundaries on what is permitted and what is not. This helps users understand how and where digital assets can be used. As a result, the use of USDC is growing.
In addition, many people, including some of our clients, do not fully understand how cryptocurrency can be spent in real-life situations. Sometimes we have to explain that they can spend any amount, from $10 to $30,000 or more, but they need to go through KYC and AML procedures. Our offerings are highly exclusive. Not all large agencies provide similar services, often because they are too conservative and prefer not to deal with crypto. At the same time, smaller agencies that lack strong expertise in banking and compliance also encounter difficulties.
There is also an issue that many service providers, including some major companies, are still unwilling to accept crypto and prefer fiat payments instead. On our end, this requires extra effort to structure and facilitate transactions. However, it also creates opportunities for additional revenue, since higher risk is usually associated with higher commission potential.
Beyond the challenges related to understanding banking systems and regulatory specifics, are there any other factors that prevent businesses from using cryptocurrency?
One of the arguments I often hear from colleagues is that clients are not asking for cryptocurrency. In reality, that is not entirely accurate. Clients are not asking because the option is not being offered. While demand does drive supply, in this case, it works the other way around as well. As soon as we announced that we accept crypto, clients started to come in. It is a slightly different dynamic — it has to be offered first. As a colleague of mine, with whom I started in sales a long time ago, used to say, “If you don’t say ‘buy,’ they won’t buy.” If people don’t receive a clear signal that something is available for purchase, they won’t pursue it.
The same applies here. If key players in the travel industry don’t offer crypto as a payment option, clients won’t even consider it. Another factor is that many people still associate cryptocurrency with a legally grey area. They assume it is used by those who want to hide their financial activity. I disagree with that view. It is a misconception. In the travel industry, everything is tied to a passport, and our clients are ordinary individuals who are required to provide identification anyway. In my view, the main reason for the low level of adoption is simply that there are too few options available at this stage.
Aeropartner Cessna 560XL Citation XLS+
Profile of Crypto Travel Users and the Competitive Landscape
How different are the needs or preferences of clients who pay for air travel with cryptocurrency compared to those who use fiat currency?
The preferences of clients who pay for air travel with cryptocurrency differ in some ways and remain similar in others. Crypto-paying clients tend to be younger, financially successful, and more open to high-end travel experiences. They are often more active, willing to make spontaneous decisions, and more receptive to trying new things. In that sense, they may spend more.
At the same time, their overall preferences don’t differ significantly from those who earn their wealth in traditional fiat markets. Affluent individuals still tend to choose similar destinations such as Milan, Sardinia, London, New York, and the Middle East. These locations are known for their high service standards and established infrastructure.
That said, crypto clients often attend crypto conferences, industry expos, and networking events within that ecosystem. These are additional destinations they prioritize. Occasionally, especially during the summer months, they may opt for less conventional locations, including places that are quite unexpected.
Are you observing a growing trend of competition in the travel and crypto space as more service providers begin accepting cryptocurrency?
I would say that competition is growing, but the trend is gradual rather than explosive. Service providers begin accepting crypto payments when they are looking to improve margins, expand distribution, and stay relevant. In the luxury segment, cryptocurrency has already become a meaningful part of the market with significant capitalization and a large number of high-net-worth individuals. If a company wants to access that market, it needs to move toward crypto integration.
That said, I wouldn’t describe the competition as intense. We haven’t encountered situations where clients choose a competitor based solely on lower fees. We are confident that we offer the best terms, and over the years, we have become trusted experts for our clients when it comes to crypto payments.
For us, competition often takes the form of other market players referring their own clients to us under an agency arrangement. Our level of expertise allows these companies to entrust us with servicing their clients, and we pay them a commission once the transactions are successfully completed.
How Cryptocurrency Is Shaping the Future of Travel
In your opinion, how significant is the overall potential for cryptocurrency payments in the travel sector?
If the share of cryptocurrency payments across the travel industry were at the same level as it is within our business, it would already be a very strong indicator of adoption.
In the luxury travel segment, there are several challenges that make the use of cryptocurrency not just convenient but, in many cases, essential:
- Urgency. Flights and events are often arranged on the same day. This creates stress and makes payment processing more complicated, especially for long-haul travel. Sometimes we have to ask contractors for payment extensions or route transactions through agents, which adds friction. Cryptocurrency solves this. Transactions are fast, transparent, low-cost, and do not require additional intermediaries.
- High transaction values. Banks frequently delay large international payments, particularly if the amount is unusual for the business or gets flagged for automatic review. Add to that the constraints of non-business hours, weekends, and holidays, and the entire process slows down. With crypto, we are not bound by banking hours and can close a deal at any time.
- Deposits. While we do not always pay contractors directly in crypto, when they have a legally registered wallet or account, we can quickly send a deposit, even outside of business hours. The final settlement can happen later. This approach is widely used in our industry because it is both convenient and efficient.
In this context, the potential for crypto adoption in the travel sector is quite substantial.
Do you expect anything to change in the next few years?
The market is already evolving gradually. It is a continuous process. When we started working with cryptocurrency five years ago, it was almost a spontaneous decision — simply to test the waters. Since then, we have increasingly seen clients come to us specifically because we offer crypto as a payment option.
The capitalization of the crypto market continues to grow, and I view this trend positively. Large international banks, ETF funds, and asset management firms are entering the space. It is already an established, albeit young, market that will continue to develop. Along with it, the crypto-based payment infrastructure will also advance.
Regulation will certainly become stricter, and in my opinion, that is a good thing. The introduction of clear rules will help both clients and businesses better understand how to operate, what is permitted, and what is not.
In addition, a digital-native generation is coming of age. This audience is more comfortable with technology and alternative payment methods. It’s this group that will continue to drive the market forward.
