Why should I pay for hotels with a stablecoin instead of Bitcoin or Ethereum?
Stablecoins like USDC track the US dollar, so the price at checkout is the price you pay. No volatility, faster settlement, and lower fees on Layer 2 networks.
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Volatility is the main reason
Bitcoin and Ethereum prices change every minute. If you start a trip1 booking when 1 ETH is worth $3,500 but the price drops 2% before your transaction confirms, the dollar value of the ETH you sent comes up short. The booking can fail and you have to start over.
Stablecoins remove that risk. One USDC equals one US dollar. The amount you send at checkout is the amount trip1 receives - no surprises if the market moves.
Speed and fees
Bitcoin transactions on the main network can take 10 to 60 minutes to confirm. Ethereum is faster but still costs several dollars in gas during busy periods.
USDC on Polygon, Arbitrum, Base, or Optimism confirms in under a minute and typically costs less than 10 cents in fees. The trip1 payment window is usually 15 minutes - faster confirmation means a higher chance of locking in your reservation on the first try.
When Bitcoin or Ethereum still makes sense
If you already hold Bitcoin or Ethereum and would rather spend it directly than swap to a stablecoin, those networks work fine on trip1. Bitcoin's Lightning Network is fast and cheap. Layer 2 networks for Ethereum are similarly efficient.
But if you're choosing between options at checkout, stablecoins are the simplest path: predictable price, fast settlement, and low fees.
Stablecoin vs Bitcoin or Ethereum for Hotels - FAQ
No. Bitcoin's price moves freely with the market and can change several percent within minutes. A stablecoin such as USDC is designed to stay at one US dollar. That matters if you hold crypto for travel: a Bitcoin balance can buy less by the time you book, while USDC keeps its dollar value.
Because the amount you send is the amount trip1 receives. One USDC equals one dollar, so its value does not swing while you pay or if you later cancel. USDC on Polygon, Arbitrum, Base or Optimism also confirms in under a minute for typically less than 10 cents in network fees.
Yes, if you send the exact amount shown before the countdown ends. CoinGate locks the crypto amount at checkout, so a price drop while you pay does not change what you owe. The real risk with Bitcoin is a slow on-chain confirmation that misses the window. USDC on a fast network avoids both price swings and delays.
Usually, yes. Paying with ETH on Ethereum can cost several dollars in gas during busy periods, while USDC on Polygon, Arbitrum, Base or Optimism typically costs less than 10 cents. Faster confirmation also helps you finish inside trip1's payment window before the countdown ends.
Mostly to hold and send dollar value on a blockchain without the price swings of Bitcoin or Ethereum. That makes them practical for payments where the price is fixed, such as a hotel booking: on trip1 you send the exact USDC amount at checkout and the value does not shift before it confirms.
They are designed not to, but the market price can briefly move away from one dollar during market stress. Circle says USDC is backed 100% by cash and cash-equivalent assets and can be redeemed 1:1 for US dollars, which is what keeps its price close to a dollar.