As crypto matures, more and more people are looking to make big purchases with crypto. | Source: CCN
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Crypto-focused travel platform Travala has added access to more than 1,700 car rental brands across 50,000+ locations in over 150 countries.
The expansion follows a milestone 2025 in which Travala surpassed $113 million in annual gross revenue.
Crypto car payments remain limited.
Crypto-focused travel booking platform Travala has launched a global car rental service, adding access to more than 1,700 brands, including Hertz and Avis, as it expands deeper into the digital asset economy.
The Singapore-based company said on Wednesday that the new vertical gives customers access to over 50,000 car rental locations across more than 150 countries.
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Travala said the launch follows a “landmark” 2025, during which its expanded travel offerings helped push annual gross revenue above $113 million.
Founded in 2017 and backed by crypto exchange Binance, Travala accepts more than 100 cryptocurrencies alongside fiat payment options.
The company began as a hotel booking site before adding flights and activities in 2021.
The crypto-native travel booking service | Source: Travala
The service is powered by a partnership with CarTrawler, a business-to-business travel technology provider that aggregates inventory from corporate and independent rental firms worldwide.
It later introduced a luxury-focused Concierge service and enabled multi-city flight bookings in late 2025.
“The launch of car rentals is a pivotal moment for the Travala ecosystem,” Chief Executive Juan Otero said in a statement, calling the expansion part of the company’s effort to bridge traditional travel infrastructure with decentralized finance.
How Can You Rent a Car With Crypto?
Through platforms such as Travala, customers can effectively reserve rental cars using cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and stablecoins.
However, in most cases, the underlying rental provider — such as Hertz or Avis — still operates within the traditional financial system.
That means customers may still need to present a credit card at pickup for deposits or incidentals, depending on the rental company’s policies.
The crypto transaction typically occurs at the booking layer, with the platform settling payments with suppliers in fiat currency behind the scenes.
While adoption is growing, direct crypto acceptance by major global rental brands remains limited.
Can You Buy a Car With Bitcoin?
Buying a car outright with crypto or Bitcoin is possible, but adoption remains fragmented.
Some luxury and independent car dealerships around the world accept Bitcoin and other digital assets directly, either through crypto payment processors or peer-to-peer transfers.
In such cases, the crypto is often converted instantly into local currency to shield sellers from price volatility.
Tesla briefly accepted Bitcoin for vehicle purchases in 2021 before suspending the option, citing environmental concerns related to Bitcoin mining.
Since then, large mainstream automakers have generally avoided direct crypto, though some continue to explore blockchain-related initiatives.
More commonly, buyers use crypto debit cards, crypto-backed loans, or third-party payment processors to convert digital assets into fiat at the point of sale.
Regulatory uncertainty and tax treatment of crypto transactions have so far limited widespread adoption of high-value purchases such as cars.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
