Is it legal to pay with crypto?

Legal in most countries

Paying for goods and services with cryptocurrency is legal in the majority of countries. Governments treat crypto differently when it comes to taxation and reporting, but the act of spending it on a hotel booking is permitted in the EU, the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and most of Southeast Asia.

EU

The EU regulates crypto under MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation), which took full effect in 2024. MiCA requires crypto service providers to hold a license and follow consumer protection rules. CoinGate, the payment provider Trip1 uses, holds a MiCA license and operates from Lithuania.

United States

Using crypto to pay for purchases is legal in the US. The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, so spending it counts as a disposal. If the value of your crypto increased since you acquired it, the difference is a capital gain. You may owe taxes on that gain. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

Other regions

The UK treats crypto as legal to use for payments. The FCA regulates crypto businesses operating in the country. Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore all allow crypto payments with varying levels of regulation. A small number of countries restrict or ban crypto transactions. Check your local laws before making a payment.

How Trip1 handles crypto payments

When you pay with crypto on Trip1, CoinGate receives your cryptocurrency, converts it to fiat, and settles the hotel booking. The hotel never handles crypto. This means your booking works within existing financial systems, even though you paid with Bitcoin or another coin.