The growing potential of cryptocurrency in global travel retail

In this guest article, James Brown of integrated design and marketing agency WePurple, explores the growing potential of cryptocurrency in global travel retail

After a few years waiting in the wings, cryptocurrencies are firmly back in the spotlight. The new administration in the USA includes Washington’s most pro-crypto Congress and regulatory bodies ever – and digital assets are making their way back into mainstream financial conversations. Even US President Donald Trump himself has been in on the action – becoming the first US President to launch his own coin.

How is the world of travel retail reacting? Last November, Afrique Duty-Free (part of the DFP World Group) announced that it would be accepting cryptocurrency for customer payments in what the company called a “global industry first”. The move comes as Afrique Duty-Free prepares an ambitious expansion plan across Western and Southern Africa.

So, is the GTR stage set for a crypto renaissance as the industry tries to appeal to a new generation of digital-native travellers? Or, will the hype fade away – a boom and bust not dissimilar to the aforementioned Trump coin?

We may see a trickle of other travel retailers experimenting with crypto, but it will take compelling results to open the floodgates to mass adoption. There is certainly potential – for instance, imagine a big player accepting cryptocurrency and linking it with their existing CRM programme. This could speed up broader implementation across the various silos of GTR.

While the hype swirls around Bitcoin and meme coins, a greater shift is happening beneath the surface. Blockchain – the technology that powers crypto – is quietly transforming industries, offering security, transparency, and efficiency.

This isn’t about Bitcoin or volatile coins; it’s about the broader implications for brands, loyalty programmes, and airport operations. Travel retail has yet to harness the full potential of blockchain, but it holds promise in several domains.

Trust is the currency of travel retail. Luxury brands, spirits and high-end cosmetics rely on credibility, but today’s consumer wants more than marketing – they want proof. Blockchain offers an immutable record that can be used to trace the journey of products and ingredients, verifying origin, quality and supply chain integrity in real time.

This capability is already being realised. Beauty brand Clarins has implemented blockchain to create a traceability system where consumers can scan a product’s QR code and instantly view information about the product’s journey. They can see where the ingredients were sourced, the sustainability practices employed and the production history of the product.

A similar approach could be used to redefine trust in travel retail. High-value purchases – such as premium wines, limited-edition watches and fine fragrances – could come with blockchain-verified proof of authenticity, eliminating counterfeits from circulation. This could be particularly important if the pre-owned craze is to catch on in travel retail.

Airports and retailers would also benefit. Counterfeit prevention is not just a brand issue; it protects the credibility of the entire travel retail ecosystem. If blockchain-backed authentication becomes standard, consumers will have zero doubts about their purchases, making duty-free the definitive destination for guaranteed authenticity.

The speculative frenzy surrounding NFTs may have faded, but the underpinning technology is interesting. As collectibles, NFTs are struggling to find a place in today’s crowded market. However, NFTs are shifting from collectibles to services and experiences, adding tangible value and engaging customers in new ways.

Consider a limited-edition whisky at London Heathrow Airport, accompanied by an NFT granting the buyer access to an exclusive Speyside distillery tour or private tasting event. In the beauty sector, an NFT tied to a skincare product could offer personalised consultations with brand ambassadors. These applications turn NFTs from digital novelties into experiential assets, reinforcing exclusivity and brand loyalty in a way that traditional marketing cannot.

Of course, the question remains – why use NFT technology to facilitate these experiences over existing tools, such as CRM or loyalty programmes?

As global travellers ourselves, we see a barrier in the brand experience when having to set up independent client profiles in each country. Could NFTs be the key for unlocking brand experiences globally without having to be a CRM member in every country? This could be a strong point of differentiation for use in travel retail, which is inherently global in nature.

This brings us to the broader implications of blockchain for airport operations. With millions of passengers moving through global hubs every day, even minor inefficiencies in security, baggage handling or ticketing can have a significant impact on time and revenue.

Finally, in an industry that is quickly adopting emerging technologies, it will be interesting to see how this plays out in the long term. We are at the very early stages of seeing how practical cryptocurrency is likely to become in a retail setting and will be keeping an eye on Afrique Duty-Free’s progress.

But blockchain technology is not a distant future concept – it is already being used today to reshape industries. The brands, retailers and airports that integrate this technology early will set new standards for security, efficiency and consumer trust.

Travel retail has an opportunity to lead, rather than follow. Those who embrace blockchain will not only create a more seamless experience for travellers but also future-proof their business in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

The shift is