Where and How to Pay with Cryptocurrency Abroad. And Most Importantly — Why

Paying with cryptocurrency for goods and services is not allowed in Russia, but in some countries, it is permitted and has been practiced for several years. Thousands of companies worldwide offer customers the option to pay with cryptocurrency.

Among them are hotels, restaurants, electronics stores, online platforms, medical services, taxis, museums, and much more. However, this additional payment method may only be part of a marketing strategy, and the seller will receive the payment in a familiar currency, even though the buyer spent cryptocurrency.

Experts analyzed for <>, how payments in cryptocurrencies and crypto cards occur, where this works, whether it is available to Russians, and when it actually makes sense.

Direct Payment in Cryptocurrencies or <>

Direct payment with cryptocurrency, where the buyer gives a crypto asset and the seller receives it, usually occurs according to one of two schemes, says Alexander Peresichan, CEO of <>. In the first case, the seller accepts the payment directly to their wallet; in the second — through an intermediary, a payment provider, such as Binance Pay, CoinGate, or Triple-A.

At the same time, payment through an intermediary may imply <>, through which the seller receives not cryptocurrency but the fiat currency they are accustomed to, added independent IT consultant Roman Nekrasov. According to him, this is the most common method.

<<For example, an online store enters into a contract with a crypto payment service. The buyer sees the option <> on the website, but what exactly the seller receives in the end is unknown. They may have agreed with the intermediary on settlements in both cryptocurrency and fiat — that is, on instant conversion into the desired currency. This is the embedded exchange, but for the buyer, it looks like payment with cryptocurrency>>, explained Nekrasov.

The processing company receives some commission for conducting such payments, the expert added. <<In reality, it is not a payment with cryptocurrency for goods and services (which is prohibited), but an exchange of crypto for rubles and subsequent payment already in rubles; these steps are just beautifully packaged into one process>>, said the analyst.

According to the European service Coingate, in the first half of 2026, only a quarter of the payments received by merchants are withdrawn in cryptocurrency, all the rest in fiat, noted Peresichan. According to him, this is generally understandable and logical: it is easier for the seller to keep accounting, record revenue, and avoid volatility risks.

The expert also pointed out that payments through any provider are not possible everywhere. For example, in Europe, direct acceptance is possible only through regulated providers.

According to Nekrasov, the acceptance of cryptocurrencies is most often a marketing story: companies introduced such options during periods of growth in the crypto market and amid user interest in this asset. He explained that the actual volumes of such operations are insignificant, but the company received immediate free mentions in the media.

There are also services selling gift cards for crypto. According to the analyst, the most popular is Bitrefill, where you can, for example, buy Amazon gift cards, which can then be used to pay for goods on the marketplace.

The Situation with Exchanges in Different Countries

The situation varies significantly depending on the jurisdiction. According to Peresichan, in Europe, exchanging cryptocurrency for regular money is only possible through authorized crypto providers. This means following the full set of rules inherent in the traditional financial system: verification, KYC and AML checks, limits, and blocking operations due to sanctions or AML risks.

The entire world is moving towards stricter regulation of crypto exchanges, says Nekrasov. The EU operates under MICA rules, the UAE under VARA, and other jurisdictions have their own requirements. According to the analyst, it all boils down to the necessity of obtaining licenses for cryptocurrency exchange operations for fiat currencies and vice versa. <<The idea of cryptocurrency as an uncensored asset has failed. Well, at least for now, it is losing>>, believes Nekrasov.

If we take the near abroad, the exchange of cryptocurrency in some countries is more practical in nature, says Peresichan. For example, in Georgia, registered cryptocurrency service providers, exchange offices, and crypto ATMs operate, through which one can exchange cryptocurrency for regular money.

<<Many Russian exchange offices offer operations abroad. However, only a few have official representations in other countries; more often, the exchange is carried out through a local partner or even an individual. Such operations should be approached with extreme caution to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or violating the legislation of another jurisdiction>>, the expert warned.

Do Exchange Crypto Cards Work for Russians and What Are the Nuances?

The main nuance is that global exchange crypto cards are most often created on the international MasterCard system, less frequently on Visa, and they do not work for Russians within Russia (in offline stores and on Russian store websites), said Nekrasov. That is, a crypto card from an exchange may only be useful abroad, when paying for subscriptions to foreign services or for booking hotels, the expert clarified.

In addition, the commissions on such cards are quite high, and blocks are not uncommon. The user replenishes the card with coins, and it gets blocked. According to Nekrasov, the only option is to contact customer support, but predicting the outcome of the inquiry is difficult.

Blocks are a matter that requires consideration of the geopolitical situation, which changes quite rapidly, added Peresichan. He reminded that a solution that worked yesterday may not be available today. <<Yes, there are still exchanges that issue cards based on Russian KYC, but for every successful case, there are 3-4 instances when the card was blocked, sometimes along with the account on the exchange>>, said the head of <>.

However, he noted that Russians continue to seek opportunities to obtain crypto cards for payments for foreign services or trips. Some manage to issue a card from a major crypto exchange using a Russian passport, but with proof of residence in one of the neighboring countries. Based on experience, such loopholes are becoming fewer, and in the event of a block on a crypto card obtained this way, disputing it is very difficult, the expert agreed.

In the past year, crypto-fiat wallets that offer virtual cards through foreign or friendly payment infrastructure have become popular, said Peresichan. The user undergoes remote identification using a Russian passport, replenishes the balance with stablecoins, receives a virtual card, and pays with it like a regular bank card. According to the expert, such solutions have their weak points: conversion rates, fees, and the risk of blocking transactions, but such services quickly adapt their operations considering the geopolitical situation.

Where Are Crypto Payments Common?

The most loyal jurisdictions are those where there are clearly defined rules for crypto acquiring, where companies can legally accept cryptocurrency under a contract with a payment provider, said Nekrasov. According to him, these are Singapore, the UAE, the USA, and Malta.

The expert emphasized that companies are rarely interested in direct interaction with the buyer and mostly use processing intermediaries to organize the acceptance of payments in cryptocurrency. In the USA, the leader among such services is Coinbase (it is both an exchange and a processing company). Nekrasov noted that direct acceptance of cryptocurrency payments makes sense only in the luxury segment: for example, for expensive real estate or yachts, where the goods are unique.

According to Peresichan, it is important to distinguish three things: the legality of owning cryptocurrency, the presence of regulated crypto services, and the real possibility of paying with cryptocurrency for coffee, a hotel, or a ticket. These are different levels of market maturity.

There are jurisdictions and individual cities where the cryptocurrency payment infrastructure is highly developed. For example, Switzerland and Lugano, with caveats --- the UAE, as well as certain tourist markets in Asia. But even there, it does not mean that stablecoins can be freely used in any store, said the expert.

According to Peresichan, for Russians, the near abroad often seems more practical. But not because "cryptocurrency can be used everywhere" there, but because the path to payment in cryptocurrency is simpler: a local bank card, a licensed exchange, a crypto ATM, an office exchange for USDT, or a crypto-fiat service. However, all these routes depend on documents, local rules, compliance, and the willingness of the service to work with a specific client, the specialist warned.

Is There Sense in Paying with Crypto Offline

Using cryptocurrency makes sense if a person travels constantly and needs a card that is not particularly tied to a specific currency or country, believes Nekrasov. Then a crypto card from a global exchange is one of the worthwhile options, but it is definitely not advisable to store significant amounts on it due to the risk of blockages, he warned.

If a person receives some income in cryptocurrency (for example, a freelance developer) and does not need to convert everything to fiat, but has expenses, then it makes sense to pay with crypto, even with a commission, the analyst allowed. For example, buying airline tickets through Travala, rather than first exchanging for fiat and then buying tickets.

There is also a sense if it is necessary to transfer money to someone in another country, added Peresichan.

"For everyday small purchases offline, there is no particular sense in using cryptocurrency. If a person has a working bank card or cash, it is almost always easier to pay with them: lower fees, clearer exchange rates, and familiar rules for returns and disputing transactions. Cryptocurrency often loses in convenience here," said Peresichan.

Cryptocurrency payments have become more practical, but not easier, the expert believes. According to him, in recent years, more services have appeared that allow the use of stablecoins for everyday tasks: to pay for subscriptions, top up cards, transfer money, or obtain local currency, but this does not negate the main limitation: cryptocurrency poorly integrates into regular retail payments without intermediaries.

"Therefore, for a Russian, the main question will not be whether it is possible to pay with cryptocurrency in the country, but what payment bridges are available specifically to him. Does he have the appropriate document for passing KYC, what are the limits on the card, how is the exchange rate calculated, who bears the risk of blocking the transaction, and what happens in case of a dispute with the seller," explained Peresichan.

In his estimates, the most rational solution in the current realities is not to build all payment plans solely around cryptocurrency. It is better to have several options in advance: a regular card, cash, a verified method for exchanging stablecoins for local currency, and a backup payment tool for online purchases. Cryptocurrency can be a useful part of this system, but making it the only payment method abroad is risky, the expert warned.

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