TravelFi has the potential to redefine how we explore the world.
Imagine booking a flight and paying in seconds, directly from your crypto wallet. Or buying dinner in a dozen different countries on a global cruise – without being hammered by exchange rates. This is the promise of TravelFi, a fusion of decentralized finance (DeFi) and travel that’s poised to reshape how we move, stay, and spend.
In a world where the travel industry is plagued by high transaction fees, fraud and chargebacks, fragmented loyalty programs, and outdated payment systems, TravelFi offers a fresh solution. Powered by blockchain, tokenization, and DeFi, it’s not just about improving travel payments but creating a more inclusive, secure, and dynamic financial ecosystem for travelers and travel businesses alike.
The Case for TravelFi
For decades, the travel industry has relied on intermediaries to process payments, adding layers of complexity and cost. Credit card transaction fees alone can account for 3-5% of every booking, squeezing profits for businesses and inflating prices for customers. Enter TravelFi, a decentralized alternative with the ruthless efficiency of blockchain technology. The result? Lower fees, faster settlements, and smarter systems that benefit all parties. But TravelFi is about more than just cutting costs: it introduces exciting new features that have the potential to redefine travel as we know it.
Traditional travel loyalty programs are restrictive. You earn points with one airline or hotel chain but find them useless elsewhere. TravelFi flips this script with tokenized loyalty points, allowing travelers to use rewards across multiple brands, much like swapping tokens on a decentralized exchange. Picture earning points with one airline and using them to book a hotel, rent a car, or even pay for airport lounge access. It’s a system that rewards travelers for their loyalty without locking them into a single ecosystem.
TravelFi leverages smart contracts to automate and streamline payments. This means refunds for canceled flights can be triggered automatically, or referral commissions for booking a hotel room through a link can be settled instantly. The power of automation doesn’t just save time; it builds trust. Travelers and businesses no longer have to rely on manual processes prone to error or delay.
Monetizing the Margins: New Revenue Streams for Businesses
TravelFi unlocks creative financial opportunities for businesses. Take decentralized insurance products, for instance, offering coverage against travel disruptions like cancellations. Or NFT-based booking confirmations tied to specific events, such as a hotel stay for a major concert, which could become collectible or even tradeable. Companies can also participate in DeFi liquidity pools, earning additional income while providing value-added services to customers. The possibilities for innovation are boundless.
The impact of TravelFi isn’t just theoretical; it’s already being implemented in real-world scenarios. Peer-to-peer payments are becoming a reality through Camino Network, the first web3 travel blockchain, which enables secure, peer-to-peer transactions. Tokenized bookings allow travelers to resell unused tickets, turning non-refundable reservations into opportunities. Meanwhile, stablecoin payments are helping airlines like Lufthansa Group facilitate transactions in regions with limited banking infrastructure.
Camino’s integration with partners like Monerium, which bridges the gap between blockchain and traditional finance, ensures that businesses and travelers can seamlessly transact between crypto and bank accounts, eliminating the friction. But this is just one blockchain and one partnership. Imagine the efficiencies that could be unlocked once 1% of businesses operating in the $11 trillion global travel industry start utilizing onchain solutions? And that’s not a final target – merely an initial milestone.
The Future of Travel Payments
The travel industry, the world’s second-largest economy, is a global powerhouse, generating trillions of dollars annually. Yet its payment systems remain stuck in the past, burdened by inefficiencies that affect both businesses and consumers. TravelFi presents a clear path forward, leveraging blockchain to create faster, cheaper, and more inclusive solutions.
This isn't a mere theoretical concept: it’s a realistic projection of where the travel industry is headed. Blockchain’s already making its mark on industries as diverse as artificial intelligence, supply chain, and logistics. It doesn’t require a crystal ball or galaxy brain to appreciate that if there’s one industry that could benefit from universal currency and the elimination of crippling foreign exchange rates, it’s travel. Furthermore, AI bots are being used more and more in the industry, and for these bots to handle payments, the necessity for digital money will increase.
While TravelFi is the obvious name for this paradigm shift in how the travel industry operates, it’ll embrace blockchain even if the moniker doesn’t stick. Industries over the world are already using web3 technology to streamline payments, verify data, and record the movements of goods and people. In other words, the rise of TravelFi has already begun and there will be no single defining moment when it supplants legacy systems. Rather, its takeover will be imperceptible until, like the internet and smartphones, we’ll eventually struggle to remember the “before time.”
As this new era of travel payments unfolds, TravelFi has the potential to redefine how we explore the world, making travel not just more accessible, but more rewarding for everyone involved. The journey has just begun.
Author bio:
Pablo Castillo, CEO & CTO of Chain4Travel
Pablo Castillo, CEO & CTO of Chain4Travel, the lab behind Camino Network, is widely known in the travel industry as the former CIO and Executive Board member of Hotelplan Group from 2014 to 2021.
He started his career in tourism over 20 years ago, selling trips for Kuoni, and has held various positions within Tour Operating, Data & Content Management, eCommerce, and international Project & Innovation Program Management for various international travel companies.
He co-founded Chain4Travel in 2021, delivering the first layer 1 blockchain for the global travel industry, "Camino," ready to take advantage of the next iteration of technology and the web3 age.
Today, he is pioneering the adoption of blockchain technology in travel with Camino Network. Over 200 established brands and startups are already supporting the web3 travel ecosystem; more than 100 entities have signed up as validators and 50+ entities are building use cases.
Imagine booking a flight and paying in seconds, directly from your crypto wallet. Or buying dinner in a dozen different countries on a global cruise – without being hammered by exchange rates. This is the promise of TravelFi, a fusion of decentralized finance (DeFi) and travel that’s poised to reshape how we move, stay, and spend.
In a world where the travel industry is plagued by high transaction fees, fraud and chargebacks, fragmented loyalty programs, and outdated payment systems, TravelFi offers a fresh solution. Powered by blockchain, tokenization, and DeFi, it’s not just about improving travel payments but creating a more inclusive, secure, and dynamic financial ecosystem for travelers and travel businesses alike.
The Case for TravelFi
For decades, the travel industry has relied on intermediaries to process payments, adding layers of complexity and cost. Credit card transaction fees alone can account for 3-5% of every booking, squeezing profits for businesses and inflating prices for customers. Enter TravelFi, a decentralized alternative with the ruthless efficiency of blockchain technology. The result? Lower fees, faster settlements, and smarter systems that benefit all parties. But TravelFi is about more than just cutting costs: it introduces exciting new features that have the potential to redefine travel as we know it.
Traditional travel loyalty programs are restrictive. You earn points with one airline or hotel chain but find them useless elsewhere. TravelFi flips this script with tokenized loyalty points, allowing travelers to use rewards across multiple brands, much like swapping tokens on a decentralized exchange. Picture earning points with one airline and using them to book a hotel, rent a car, or even pay for airport lounge access. It’s a system that rewards travelers for their loyalty without locking them into a single ecosystem.
TravelFi leverages smart contracts to automate and streamline payments. This means refunds for canceled flights can be triggered automatically, or referral commissions for booking a hotel room through a link can be settled instantly. The power of automation doesn’t just save time; it builds trust. Travelers and businesses no longer have to rely on manual processes prone to error or delay.
Monetizing the Margins: New Revenue Streams for Businesses
TravelFi unlocks creative financial opportunities for businesses. Take decentralized insurance products, for instance, offering coverage against travel disruptions like cancellations. Or NFT-based booking confirmations tied to specific events, such as a hotel stay for a major concert, which could become collectible or even tradeable. Companies can also participate in DeFi liquidity pools, earning additional income while providing value-added services to customers. The possibilities for innovation are boundless.
The impact of TravelFi isn’t just theoretical; it’s already being implemented in real-world scenarios. Peer-to-peer payments are becoming a reality through Camino Network, the first web3 travel blockchain, which enables secure, peer-to-peer transactions. Tokenized bookings allow travelers to resell unused tickets, turning non-refundable reservations into opportunities. Meanwhile, stablecoin payments are helping airlines like Lufthansa Group facilitate transactions in regions with limited banking infrastructure.
Camino’s integration with partners like Monerium, which bridges the gap between blockchain and traditional finance, ensures that businesses and travelers can seamlessly transact between crypto and bank accounts, eliminating the friction. But this is just one blockchain and one partnership. Imagine the efficiencies that could be unlocked once 1% of businesses operating in the $11 trillion global travel industry start utilizing onchain solutions? And that’s not a final target – merely an initial milestone.
The Future of Travel Payments
The travel industry, the world’s second-largest economy, is a global powerhouse, generating trillions of dollars annually. Yet its payment systems remain stuck in the past, burdened by inefficiencies that affect both businesses and consumers. TravelFi presents a clear path forward, leveraging blockchain to create faster, cheaper, and more inclusive solutions.
This isn't a mere theoretical concept: it’s a realistic projection of where the travel industry is headed. Blockchain’s already making its mark on industries as diverse as artificial intelligence, supply chain, and logistics. It doesn’t require a crystal ball or galaxy brain to appreciate that if there’s one industry that could benefit from universal currency and the elimination of crippling foreign exchange rates, it’s travel. Furthermore, AI bots are being used more and more in the industry, and for these bots to handle payments, the necessity for digital money will increase.
While TravelFi is the obvious name for this paradigm shift in how the travel industry operates, it’ll embrace blockchain even if the moniker doesn’t stick. Industries over the world are already using web3 technology to streamline payments, verify data, and record the movements of goods and people. In other words, the rise of TravelFi has already begun and there will be no single defining moment when it supplants legacy systems. Rather, its takeover will be imperceptible until, like the internet and smartphones, we’ll eventually struggle to remember the “before time.”
As this new era of travel payments unfolds, TravelFi has the potential to redefine how we explore the world, making travel not just more accessible, but more rewarding for everyone involved. The journey has just begun.
Author bio:
Pablo Castillo, CEO & CTO of Chain4Travel
Pablo Castillo, CEO & CTO of Chain4Travel, the lab behind Camino Network, is widely known in the travel industry as the former CIO and Executive Board member of Hotelplan Group from 2014 to 2021.
He started his career in tourism over 20 years ago, selling trips for Kuoni, and has held various positions within Tour Operating, Data & Content Management, eCommerce, and international Project & Innovation Program Management for various international travel companies.
He co-founded Chain4Travel in 2021, delivering the first layer 1 blockchain for the global travel industry, "Camino," ready to take advantage of the next iteration of technology and the web3 age.
Today, he is pioneering the adoption of blockchain technology in travel with Camino Network. Over 200 established brands and startups are already supporting the web3 travel ecosystem; more than 100 entities have signed up as validators and 50+ entities are building use cases.
The Future of CFD Trading: Why Eightcap is Bringing TradeLocker to the Regulated Market
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
