logo
Crypto payments for Thailand tourists: US, UAE, Japan and other countries that let you pay with Bitcoin, Ether, more

Crypto payments for Thailand tourists: US, UAE, Japan and other countries that let you pay with Bitcoin, Ether, more

Mint6 days ago
Financial regulators in Thailand are mulling to let foreign tourists exchange cryptocurrency in exchange of Thai Baht to make purchases across the country, in a move to enhance its tourism sector.
In a recently proposed initiative, the country announced intentions of launching a crypto sandbox for its tourists, who can convert their Bitcoin into real money and purchase goods and services.
While the move is aimed to woo more tourists, Thailand is not the only country that accepts crypto payments. Here are six others.
El Salvador was the first country to accept Bitcoin as a legal tender in 2021, allowing citizens and tourists alike to use the crypto coin for everyday life shopping, food and travel. However, the country agreed to roll back some aspects of Bitcoin usage following intervention from the IMF.
One of Eurpoe's most crypto-forward nations, Malta is often called the 'Blockchain Island'. Retailers and restaurants across the country began accepting Bitcoin as early as 2016. Tourists can also use their digital assets to book flights and accommodations in Malta.
Malta's Virtual Financial Assets Act (VFAA), which was introduced in 2018, streamlines licensing for crypto companies.
The United Arab Emirates, especially Dubai, has witnessed a rapid growth of cryptocurrency adoption across sectors including retail, real estate, and hospitality.
Top developers like DAMAC and Emaar accept Bitcoin and Ether payments to purchase properties. Expanding the opportunity, Emirates Airlines earlier this month signed an MoU with Crypto.com to accept crypto payments for booking flights. The airlines will by 2026 accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital currencies for flight bookings and in-flight services.
Portugal, another crypto-friendly nation in Europe, encourages adoption of cryptocurrencies via tax policies and relaxed regulations. While it is not yet a legal tender in the country, many businesses accept Bitcoin payments.
Japan recognised Bitcoin as a legal payment method as early as 2017, becoming one of the first countries to do so. While most transactions in Japan are cash-reliant, some retailers, electronics stores, as well as travel agencies now accept Bitcoin for tourists and residents.
With Donald Trump's crypto push, the United States is adopting digital assets more than ever, though it is not yet a uniform system yet. However, tourists can leverage digital assets while travelling within the country.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sensex settles 542 pts lower; Nifty ends below 25,100; IT shares under pressure
Sensex settles 542 pts lower; Nifty ends below 25,100; IT shares under pressure

Business Standard

time16 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

Sensex settles 542 pts lower; Nifty ends below 25,100; IT shares under pressure

The domestic equity benchmarks ended with moderate losses today, pressured by intensified selling in IT stocks following disappointing earnings from major IT companies, which dampened investor sentiment on Dalal Street. Global cues further dragged sentiment. The White Houses announcement that U.S. President Donald Trump will visit the Federal Reserve on Thursday an unexpected move has intensified tensions with Fed Chair Jerome Powell, creating uncertainty in global markets. Adding to the pessimism, there was no progress on the interim trade deal between India and the U.S. ahead of Washingtons 1 August deadline. According to media reports, negotiations between the countries have stalled over tariff reductions on key agricultural and dairy products. The Nifty settled below 25,100 level. PSU Bank, pharma and auto shares advanced while IT, FMCG and realty shares declined. As per provisional closing data, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex slumped 542.47 points or 0.66% to 82,184.17, while the Nifty 50 fell 157.80 points or 0.63% to 25,062.10. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index declined 0.43%, and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 0.50%. Market breadth was weak on the BSE, with 2,415 stocks declining and only 1,642 advancing. Meanwhile, 164 stocks remained unchanged. The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of the market's expectation of volatility over the near term, added 1.97% to 10.72. Economy: The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI climbed to 59.2 in July 2025 from 58.4 in the previous month, according to preliminary estimates. The latest figure signaled a robust expansion in manufacturing activity and marked the highest reading in nearly 17-and-a-half years, highlighting the sector's continued momentum. The HSBC India Services PMI declined to 59.4 in July 2025 from 60.4 in the previous month, preliminary readings showed. The latest figure marked a slowdown from the fastest expansion in ten months, as output growth eased compared to the prior month. The HSBC India Composite PMI fell to 60.7 in July 2025 from a final 61.0 in June, which was a 14-month high, flash data showed. Despite the slight dip, the latest result remained well above its long-run average of 54.8. Services activity rose at a slightly slower pace, though still robust by historical standards, while manufacturing output grew the most since April 2024. IPO Update: The initial public offer (IPO) of Brigade Hotel Ventures received bids for 2,73,75,890 shares as against 5,11,93,987 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 15:30 IST on Thursday (24 July 2025). The issue was subscribed 0.53 times. The initial public offer (IPO) of Indiqube Spaces bids for 3,11,43,798 shares as against 1,71,48,335 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 15:30 IST on Thursday (24 July 2025). The issue was subscribed 1.82 times. The initial public offer (IPO) of GNG Electronics bids for 33,29,10,963 shares as against 1,41,88,644 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 15:30 IST on Thursday (24 July 2025). The issue was subscribed 23.46 times. Buzzing Index: The Nifty IT index fell 2.21% to 36,135.80. The index shed 0.25% in the previous trading sessions. Coforge (down 9.28%), Persistent Systems (down 7.64%), Mphasis (down 3.1%), Tech Mahindra (down 3.06%) and LTIMindtree (down 1.84%) were the top losers. Among the other losers were Infosys (down 1.49%), HCL Technologies (down 1.48%), Tata Consultancy Services (down 1.07%). On the other hand, Oracle Financial Services Software (up 1.9%) ,Wipro (up 0.33%) turned up. Coforge tumbled 9.28% after the company has reported 4.8% decline in consolidated net profit (continuing business) to Rs 247.2 crore despite an 8.2% increase in revenue to Rs 3,689 crore in Q1 FY26 as compared with Q4 FY25. The companys order intake for the quarter was $507 million. The executable order book for the next twelve months stands at $1.55 billion, a 46.9% year-over-year increase. The company signed five large deals in Q1 FY26 across North America, the UK, and APAC. Persistent System slumped 7.64%. The IT firm has reported 7.37% jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 424.94 crore on 2.82% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 3,333.59 crore in Q1 FY26 over Q1 FY25. The order booking for the quarter ended on 30th June 2025, was at $520.8 million in total contract value (TCV) and at $385.3 million in annual contract value (ACV) terms. Stocks in Spotlight: Infosys dropped 1.31% after the companys consolidated net profit declined 1.59% to Rs 6,921 crore despite a 3.31% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 42,279 crore in Q1 FY26 over Q4 FY25. On a year on year (YoY) basis, the companys net profit and revenue jumped 8.68% and 7.54%, respectively in Q1 FY26. The companys total contract value (TCV) of large deal wins was $3.8 billion in Q1 FY26, with a net new of 55%. The companys total clients stood at 1,861 as on 30th June 2025 as compared with 1,867 clients as on 30th June 2024. The IT major has informed that the voluntary attrition rate (LTM IT Services) came in at 14.4% in Q1 FY26, up from 14.1% in Q4 FY25 and 12.7% in Q1 FY25. Oracle Financial Services Software rose 2.80% after the company reported a 4.09% increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 641.9 crore on a 6.36% rise in revenue from operations to Rs 1,852.2 crore in Q1 FY26 over Q1 FY25. Nestle India dropped 5.54% after the companys standalone net profit declined 11.70% to Rs 659.23 crore in Q1 FY26, compared with Rs 746.60 crore posted in Q1 FY25. However, revenue from operations jumped 5.86% to Rs 5,096.2 crore in Q1 FY26, compared to Rs 5,096.2 crore in Q1 FY25. Trent declined 3.95% after a foreign brokerage downgraded the stock to "neutral" from its previous "buy" rating, while also lowering the target price from Rs 6,970 to Rs 5,500 per share. The downgrade came alongside a reduction in the brokers FY26 estimates for sales and earnings per share (EPS) by 5%-9% and 8%-13%, respectively, citing a greater-than-expected impact from cannibalisation. Cannibalisation occurs when the sales of an existing product are negatively affected by the launch of a similar offering within the same company. Dr Reddys Laboratories added 1.64% after the companys consolidated net profit rose 1.8% to Rs 1,418.10 crore on 11.4% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 8,545.20 crore in Q1 FY26 over Q1 FY25. Thyrocare Technologies surged 11.25% after the healthcare service provider reported a 61.07% increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 38.93 crore on a 23.02% rise in revenue from operations to Rs 193.03 crore in Q1 FY26 over Q1 FY25. Shares of Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) tumbled 27.97% after media reports indicated that the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has formally announced the implementation of power market coupling in India. According to reports, under the first phase of the new regulatory framework, the day-ahead market (DAM) is expected to be coupled by January 2026. The model proposes a round-robin system where multiple power exchanges will alternately function as Market Coupling Operators (MCOs). Market coupling is a mechanism through which buy and sell bids from all power exchanges are aggregated and centrally matched to arrive at a single, uniform market clearing price (MCP). Once implemented, this would mean only one trading price for electricity across all exchanges at any given time, eliminating price variations across platforms. Cigniti Technologies declined 6.85% after the companys consolidated net profit dropped 9.97% to Rs 65.9 crore on a 0.74% rise in revenue to Rs 534.2 crore in Q1 FY26 over Q4 FY25. Force Motors rallied 12.39% after the company reported a 52.39% surge in consolidated net profit to Rs 176.36 crore on a 21.88% rise in revenue from operations to Rs 2,297.25 crore in Q1 FY26 over Q1 FY25. Natco Pharma slipped 3.36%. The company informed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has issued an EIR for its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) division located in Mekaguda, Hyderabad, Telangana. The US FDA had conducted an inspection at the companys aforementioned unit from 9 June to 13 June 2025. Post the inspection, the company received one observation in Form-483, which was classified as voluntary action indicated (VAI). Bajaj Steel Industries dropped 6.39% after the companys consolidated net profit plunged 78.93% to Rs 7.40 crore in Q1 FY26 as against Rs 35.13 crore posted in Q1 FY25. Revenue from operations declined 23.74% YoY to Rs 107.53 crore for the quarter ended 30 June 2025. Global Markets: The US US Dow Jones index futures are currently down by 130 points, indicating a negative start for US stocks today. European shares advanced, while Asian stocks ended higher on Thursday as fresh trade developments between the U.S. and Japan, alongside encouraging signals of a deal with the European Union, buoyed investor sentiment. Investor focus shifted to Washingtons evolving trade strategy, with U.S. President Donald Trump setting his sights on the European Union after finalizing a sweeping agreement with Japan. Negotiators from both the U.S. and EU are now under pressure to strike a deal by August 1, as the Trump administration appears firm on its tariff timeline. On Tuesday, the U.S. and Japan sealed what Trump described as "the largest trade deal in history." The agreement includes a $550 billion investment from Japan into the U.S. economy. In return, tariffs on Japanese exports to the American marketranging from automobiles to agricultural goodshave been reduced to 15% from the previously proposed 25%. Trump hailed the deal as a mutually beneficial win that opens Japans markets to U.S. cars, trucks, and farm products. Economic data from Japan, however, painted a mixed picture. The au Jibun manufacturing PMI dropped to 48.8 in Julys preliminary reading, below expectations of 50.2 and down from 50.1 in June, signaling a mild contraction. On the other hand, the services sector showed resilience, with the services PMI rising to 53.5 from 51.7 a month earlier. Overnight on Wall Street, U.S. equities finished higher after Trump promoted his trade accomplishments with Japan and Indonesia on Truth Social. He also hinted at easing tariffs if other nations opened their markets to American goods. Adding to the momentum, Washington unveiled its new AI Action (WA: ACT) Plan. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.14% to a six-month high, while the S&P 500 gained 0.78% and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.61%.

Trump Admin Cancels $4.9 Billion Loan Guarantee For Green Power Project
Trump Admin Cancels $4.9 Billion Loan Guarantee For Green Power Project

NDTV

time27 minutes ago

  • NDTV

Trump Admin Cancels $4.9 Billion Loan Guarantee For Green Power Project

The Trump administration on Wednesday cancelled a $4.9 billion federal loan guarantee for a new high-voltage transmission line for delivering solar and wind-generated electricity from the Midwest to the eastern US, but the company indicated that project would go forward anyway. The US Department of Energy declared that it is "not critical for the federal government to have a role" in the first phase of Chicago-based Invenergy's planned Grain Belt Express. The department also questioned whether the $11 billion project could meet the financial conditions required for a loan guarantee. President Donald Trump has repeatedly derided wind and solar energy as unreliable and opposed efforts to combat climate change by moving away from fossil fuels. The Department of Energy also said Wednesday that the conditional commitment to Invenergy in November was among billions of dollars' worth of commitments "rushed out the doors" by former President Joe Biden's administration after Biden lost the election. Two prominent Missouri Republicans, US Sen. Josh Hawley and state Attorney General Andrew Bailey, have been vocal critics of the project, describing it as a threat to farmland and landowners' property rights. Hawley said on July 10 that he had secured a pledge from US Energy Secretary Chris Wright to cancel the loan guarantee in a conversation with him and Trump. "To ensure more responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources, DOE has terminated its conditional commitment," the agency said in a statement. A federal loan guarantee generally makes borrowing money less costly. A statement issued for the Grain Belt Express expressed disappointment, calling the new transmission line "America's largest power pipeline." Construction has been set to start next year. The statement added: "A privately financed Grain Belt Express transmission superhighway will advance President Trump's agenda of American energy and technology dominance while delivering billions of dollars in energy cost savings, strengthening grid reliability and resiliency, and creating thousands of American jobs." Invenergy has said its project would create 4,000 jobs and new efficiencies in delivering power, and that it would save consumers $52 billion over 15 years. The line would deliver electricity from western Kansas about 800 miles (1,287 kilometers), across Missouri and Illinois and into Indiana, connecting there to the power grid for the eastern US It could deliver up to 5,000 megawatts of electricity. "When electricity demand and consumer power bills are soaring, it's hard to imagine a more backward move," said Bob Keefe, executive director of E2, a nonpartisan, Washington-based group supporting renewable energy. The decision to cancel the loan guarantee came the same day Trump unveiled a plan for US dominance in artificial intelligence that includes speeding up the permitting of new data centers and factories that will boost the demand for electricity. "This gross mismanagement of our country's energy needs will increase power bills for hundreds of millions of people while making the electricity grid less reliable," said Laurie Williams, director of a campaign against fossil fuels for the Sierra Club environmental group. Jigar Shah, who headed the Department of Energy office handling loan guarantees under Biden, said that if an applicant meets the requirements of a conditional commitment, the department is obligated to follow through. "This decision is illegal," he said in a post on the LinkedIn social media platform. Hawley and Bailey have called the Grain Belt Express a "scam." Critics object to what Hawley labels an "elitist land grab," the company's ability to use lawsuits against individual landowners along the line's route to compel them to sell their property. Online court records show that the company filed dozens of such lawsuits in Missouri circuit courts in recent years. The Missouri Farm Bureau's president posted on the social platform X Wednesday that the project threatened to "sacrifice rural America in the name of progress." "We've won a major battle in the war for Missouri's private property rights and farmers," Bailey said. "At our urging, the DOE saw this boondoggle for what it was." Bailey acknowledged in his comments that the project still could go forward with private funding and no loan guarantee but added, "If Invenergy still intends to force this project on unwilling landowners, we will continue to fight every step of the way." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Trump Legalizes Crypto Investing – Why Capitalists Are Quietly Choosing BTC Miner's Cloud Mining with Up to 7% Daily Returns
Trump Legalizes Crypto Investing – Why Capitalists Are Quietly Choosing BTC Miner's Cloud Mining with Up to 7% Daily Returns

Hans India

time35 minutes ago

  • Hans India

Trump Legalizes Crypto Investing – Why Capitalists Are Quietly Choosing BTC Miner's Cloud Mining with Up to 7% Daily Returns

July 18, 2025 – In a historic move, former U.S. President Donald Trump officially signed the GENIUS Act, America's first comprehensive crypto legislation, giving institutional investors—including $9 trillion in pension funds—the green light to legally invest in cryptocurrencies. As Wall Street gears up to enter the crypto market, smart capitalists are quietly moving into a hidden opportunity: BTC Miner cloud mining. While the public chases volatile Bitcoin and Ethereum prices, insiders are choosing a stable, high-return alternative: automated cloud mining. What Is BTC Miner? BTC Miner is a global cloud mining platform that lets anyone mine Bitcoin remotely—without owning expensive mining rigs or paying massive electricity bills. Investors simply select a hash-power contract, and BTC Miner handles everything through its AI-managed mining network powered by renewable energy. Daily returns up to 7% $500 free mining trial for new users No hardware, no maintenance, zero hassle Earnings paid daily in USD equivalents Funds safely stored in Tier-1 banks, insured by AIG BTC Miner transforms crypto mining into a simple, automated, and profitable process for everyone. Why Capitalists Are Secretly Joining BTC Miner Trump's new crypto law has opened the gates for institutional investors, but sophisticated players aren't relying solely on risky token investments. Instead, they're embracing BTC Miner cloud mining for one reason: stability. Predictable Daily Returns : Earn up to 7% daily, independent of market volatility. : Earn up to 7% daily, independent of market volatility. AI-Managed Efficiency : BTC Miner uses intelligent load balancing to maximize mining profitability. : BTC Miner uses intelligent load balancing to maximize mining profitability. ESG Compliance : Powered by green energy to meet institutional sustainability standards. : Powered by green energy to meet institutional sustainability standards. Top-Level Fund Security : Clients' funds are securely stored in Tier-1 banks, and their personal information is protected by SSL encryption. Every investment is protected by an AIG insurance policy, adding another layer of safety. : Clients' funds are securely stored in Tier-1 banks, and their personal information is protected by SSL encryption. Every investment is protected by an AIG insurance policy, adding another layer of safety. Fully Regulated & Transparent: BTC Miner operates licensed mining farms with strict asset protection. In short, BTC Miner delivers what institutional capital demands: stable, secure, and scalable profits in crypto. Investors Speak – Real BTC Miner User Feedback 'I'm earning daily profits without having to sell my Bitcoin.' — James K., Investor from Texas 'Started with the $500 trial and saw real profits within days. Zero risk, pure rewards.' — Anna S., User from Germany 'Instant withdrawals, stable payouts. BTC Miner is how I generate passive crypto income.' — Wei L., Business owner from Singapore BTC Miner is building a strong reputation worldwide as the go-to choice for safe, profitable crypto investing. How to Join BTC Miner and Start Earning Crypto Easily Sign up: Go to and create a free account. Claim $500 Free Trial: New users automatically receive $500 in mining credits. Choose a Mining Plan: Select short or long-term hash-power contracts. Sit Back and Earn: BTC Miner handles everything. Daily returns are automatic. Withdraw Anytime: Profits are paid daily and can be withdrawn instantly. Referral Program: Invite friends and earn 7% from their mining profits and 2% from indirect referrals. Build your own mining network and grow your passive income. The Smart Money Has Already Moved With Trump's crypto-friendly law in place and billions of institutional dollars entering the market, cloud mining is the next frontier. BTC Miner offers a secure, stable, and fully automated way to grow wealth without chasing volatile token prices. Stop trading. Start mining. Let BTC Miner work for you 24/7. 👉 Join now at claim your $500 free trial, and start earning up to 7% daily.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store