American Categorical has launched a brand new blockchain-based function known as Amex Passport, permitting U.S. cardholders to earn digital journey stamps every time they make qualifying purchases overseas. The digital collectibles are issued as ERC-721 tokens on Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer 2 Base community, marking the monetary big’s newest foray into web3 expertise.
The Amex Passport program captures and shops private journey mementos as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on-chain, however with out emphasizing the “NFT” label in its consumer interface. As a substitute, the corporate is presenting them as emotional keepsakes—a contemporary evolution of the now-rare bodily passport stamp.
“When bodily stamps are vanishing, Amex Passport offers Card Members a brand new solution to have a good time journey,” stated Luke Gebb, Government Vice President of Amex Digital Labs. In accordance with a latest firm survey, 73% of vacationers need digital methods to commemorate journeys, whereas 56% miss conventional passport stamps.
To earn a digital stamp, U.S.-based Amex cardholders should make an in-person buy in any of 130 eligible nations or areas utilizing their card or a linked digital pockets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. Previous journeys from as much as two years in the past are additionally included, based mostly on transaction historical past.
Every digital stamp contains the nation identify, journey date, and a brief description—however can’t be bought, traded, or transferred. The tokens are non-public and accessible solely through the Amex Journey app, guaranteeing no private journey knowledge is publicly seen on the blockchain.
As of mid-September, over 20,000 stamps have already been issued, per blockchain knowledge. The good contract powering the function was deployed roughly 25 days earlier than launch.
The transfer follows a broader development of utility-based blockchain adoption in journey. In 2023, Lufthansa launched the same program on Polygon, whereas South Korea’s Jeju Island is about to launch an NFT-based tourism card in 2025.
American Categorical can be increasing its crypto partnerships. A Bitcoin rewards card with Coinbase is slated for launch later this 12 months, providing as much as 4% cashback in BTC.
With Amex Passport, the corporate is prioritizing real-world use over hypothesis, showcasing how blockchain can create customized, significant experiences somewhat than simply monetary merchandise.
