Travala, an online travel ticketing service that operates on cryptocurrency, has expanded its range of payment options to include major tokens on the Solana blockchain.
Travala CEO Juan Otero made the announcement during the Solana Breakpoint conference in Singapore on September 21. The integration with Solana, a layer-1 blockchain ecosystem, now allows travelers to book hotels and flights using Solana’s native token, Solana (SOL), as well as major stablecoins USDt (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), all on the Solana blockchain.
The Solana blockchain is a direct competitor to Ethereum and focuses on faster and cheaper execution of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps).
Travala has previously accepted payments in Bitcoin (BTC) and a range of other cryptocurrencies, including Ether (ETH). However, the integration with Solana now enables users to deposit and withdraw the supported tokens directly on Travala accounts, with zero-fee transactions specifically for travel bookings. This news has been met with excitement from crypto investors and enthusiasts, who are hoping for a seamless travel booking experience.
Travala also has plans to introduce SOL travel rewards in the near future, further enhancing the benefits for users.
In addition to Travala’s integration, Coinbase, a popular cryptocurrency exchange, has also shown interest in the Solana blockchain. Coinbase plans to introduce Coinbase’s new “cbBTC,” a wrapped Bitcoin asset, to the Solana network. Details regarding the launch date have not yet been announced, but Hassan Ahmed, Coinbase’s country director for Singapore, explained that wrapped Bitcoin products allow users to maintain control of their assets while utilizing Bitcoin as collateral for decentralized finance applications.
Solana’s wrapped Bitcoin asset, cbBTC, was initially launched on the Ethereum and Base networks. Coinbase clarified that cbBTC is backed at a 1:1 ratio, with Bitcoin held by the centralized exchange. There are currently no separate order books or trading pairs for cbBTC on the Coinbase platform.
While Solana has received criticism from some, it continues to attract attention and partnerships like these, highlighting its potential and unique features within the blockchain industry.