American Express is introducing a novel feature for U.S. cardholders, offering digital travel “stamps” for each country visited. This initiative, known as Amex Passport, marks a shift towards integrating blockchain technology into the travel experience, providing users with unique ERC-721 tokens that serve as collectible art pieces associated with their travels.
Colin Marlowe, the VP of Emerging Partnerships at Amex Digital Labs, elaborated that while these digital stamps are not physical passport replacements, they aim to enhance the travel experience in a digital world. Cardholders can view their collected stamps within the existing Amex mobile app, distinct from the upcoming Amex Travel app set to launch on September 18.
To kickstart the collection, Amex will backdate stamps, issuing tokens for countries users have visited within the past two years. Each time an Amex card is used in different locations globally, a crypto wallet is automatically created in the background, allowing for seamless minting of these digital stamps. However, users will not interact directly with the blockchain and will not be able to trade their stamps.
Marlowe emphasized that the initiative is not designed to immerse cardholders in crypto culture but rather to evoke a sense of fulfillment associated with travel. By positioning the stamps as on-chain NFTs, Amex aims to instill a sense of permanence akin to traditional physical stamps.
The choice to utilize the Base blockchain is strategic, especially following Coinbase’s recent introduction of the Coinbase One card, which provides Bitcoin rewards on purchases made with Amex. Both companies are carving out positions as premium brands in the financial landscape, with a focus on delivering high-value services, albeit at a cost.
For U.S. cardholders eager to explore this new feature, the Amex Passport is accessible via the mobile app under Account > Settings > Try New Features, inviting users to celebrate their travel journeys in an innovative manner.
