Quick answer
Where can a digital nomad pay in crypto?
We checked 9 digital nomad visa countries on October 12, 2026. We found no ban on paying in crypto on the spot in six: Portugal, Spain, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Colombia. Indonesia bans it, and Thailand and the United Arab Emirates restrict it. StaySats books long hotel stays paid in crypto, held, not charged, until the hotel confirms.
Nomad visas and crypto, in facts
| Nomad visas checked | 9, on official government pages, on October 12, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Highest official income threshold | Japan: 10 million yen a year, for a stay of up to 6 months |
| Lowest official income threshold found | Malaysia: USD 24,000 a year for tech roles (DE Rantau Nomad Pass) |
| Longest stay per entry | Thailand's DTV: up to 180 days, extendable once by 180 days; visa valid 5 years |
| Paying in crypto on the spot | Banned in Indonesia; restricted in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates; no ban found in the 6 other countries |
| Spain | Telework visa available, but hotels in Spain are not available on StaySats yet |
| Monthly stays on Airbnb | The US Airbnb gift card sold for crypto excludes stays of 28 nights or more, per the reseller's terms |
| How you pay a long stay | BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC; the full total is held, then charged when the hotel confirmation number is issued |
| Identity | No ID upload at our checkout; the hotel checks your passport at check-in |
How do the 9 nomad-visa countries compare on crypto?
Six of the 9 have no ban that we found on paying in crypto on the spot: Portugal, Spain, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Colombia. Indonesia bans it. Thailand allows it only through a sandbox where merchants are paid in baht. The United Arab Emirates allows only licensed dirham tokens.
A legal rule is only half of the answer. The other half is how many places list crypto locally. BTC Map counts within 25 km of each city, on October 12, 2026:
| City | Nomad visa country | Places listed on BTC Map (25 km) | Hotels listed | Paying in crypto on the spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medellín | Colombia | 135 | 0 | No ban found |
| Bangkok | Thailand | 95 | 0 | Restricted |
| Lisbon | Portugal | 53 | 3 | No ban found |
| Tokyo | Japan | 51 | 0 | No ban found |
| Chiang Mai | Thailand | 35 | 9 | Restricted |
| Seoul | South Korea | 32 | 0 | No ban found |
| Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 17 | 1 | No ban found |
| Bali | Indonesia | 15 | 3 | Banned |
| Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 10 | 2 | Restricted |
Counts from the BTC Map public API (data from OpenStreetMap contributors). A listed place is not proof that it accepts crypto today. All 100 cities: Crypto-Friendly Destinations Index.
What do the nine nomad visas require?
One row per visa, from the official page we could open on October 12, 2026. An income figure appears only when that page states it. Thresholds change every year: the official page is always the reference.
| Country | Visa | Who it is for | Income or funds (official figure) | Length of stay | Paying in crypto on the spot | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Designated Activities (digital nomad) | Nationals of visa-exempt countries that have a tax treaty with Japan; private medical insurance of at least 10 million yen | Annual income of at least 10 million yen | Up to 6 months, no extension; 6 months before reapplying | No ban found | Immigration Services Agency |
| Thailand | Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), "workcation" | Digital nomads, remote workers and freelancers, with a work contract or a portfolio | Funds of at least 500,000 THB | Up to 180 days per entry, one extension of 180 days; visa valid 5 years | Restricted | Royal Thai Embassy, Phnom Penh |
| Malaysia | DE Rantau Nomad Pass | Digital freelancers and remote employees of foreign companies | USD 24,000 a year (tech roles) or USD 60,000 a year (other roles) | 3 to 12 months, renewable once for 12 months (24 months at most) | No ban found | MDEC, pass FAQ |
| United Arab Emirates | Remote work visa | Employees of a company based outside the UAE | Monthly income of at least USD 3,500 | 1 year | Restricted (licensed dirham tokens only) | Abu Dhabi Residents Office |
| South Korea | Workation visa (F-1-D) | People employed by, or owning, a foreign company for more than one year | More than twice the previous year's GNI per capita (KRW 52,416,000 for 2025) | Up to 1 year, extendable | No ban found | Embassy of Korea in Canada |
| Spain | Telework visa (international teleworker) | Non-EU remote workers for companies outside Spain; a degree or 3 years of experience | 200% of Spain's minimum wage: EUR 2,368 a month in 2025 | Visa valid 1 year; permit of up to 3 years from inside Spain | No ban found | Embassy of Spain in Jamaica |
| Portugal | Residence visa for remote work | Remote workers employed by, or serving, entities based outside Portugal | Not stated on the official page we could open | Residence permit valid 2 years, renewable for 3-year periods | No ban found | AIMA |
| Colombia | Digital nomad visa (Visitante Nómadas Digitales / Trabajadores Remotos) | Foreign remote workers whose pay does not come from Colombia | Not stated in the official announcement we read | Up to 2 years (Resolution 5477, 2022) | No ban found | Cancillería de Colombia |
| Indonesia | Remote Worker visa (E33G) | Remote workers employed outside Indonesia | Not stated on the eVisa page we could open | See the eVisa site | Banned | Indonesia eVisa |
Notes from the same check: the Abu Dhabi Residents Office page said that it was not taking new requests in this category. Dubai has its own process. The Korean page is dated January 1, 2026. The press reported changes to the F-1-D in July 2026, so check with the Korea Immigration Service before you apply.
How do I book a long stay in crypto with StaySats?
The same five steps work for 3 nights or 30.
Top up your balance
Send BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC from $25. USDT works on TRC-20 or ERC-20: send it only on the network shown. The balance is credited in USD once the transaction is confirmed.
Search your exact dates
Search the city with your check-in and check-out dates. You see the price found live for your dates, in US dollars, for the whole stay. Taxes and fees are included when the hotel publishes them; the final total is confirmed with the hotel before you are charged.
Know the rate rules
Cancellation rules and any local tax paid at the hotel are confirmed with your booking. Until the hotel confirms them, treat the rate as non-refundable.
Book: held, not charged
The exact total of the stay is held on your balance while we request the booking from the hotel. It is charged only when the hotel confirmation number is issued, and released if we can't confirm in time.
Check in with your passport
We send the hotel the lead guest's name only. The hotel checks your ID as local law requires and may ask for a card or cash deposit for extras.
Search a long stay
Popular destinations
Live prices in USD for the whole stay; taxes and fees are included when the hotel publishes them. Bookings are made on request: nothing is charged until the hotel confirmation number is issued, and a higher total needs your agreement.
Should I book one long stay or several shorter ones?
It depends on how sure your dates are. One booking for the whole stay keeps you in the same room, but a non-refundable rate returns nothing if you leave early. Several shorter bookings at the same hotel let you stop at set dates. Each booking has its own rate rules and cancellation deadline.
Before you book a month, keep four things in mind:
- The rate rules: they are confirmed with the hotel when it confirms your booking. Until then, treat the rate as non-refundable.
- Your visa length: a 6-month stay in Japan or a 180-day entry in Thailand sets the longest booking that makes sense.
- The deposit at check-in: for a long stay, the hotel may ask for a larger card or cash deposit for extras. See check-in without a credit card.
- Local taxes: some cities cap their tourist tax. Lisbon charges it for the first 7 nights only. Details per city are on monthly stays paid in USDT.
Can a nomad pay a monthly Airbnb in crypto?
Not through the usual gift card. The US Airbnb gift card sold for crypto excludes reservations of 28 nights or longer, per the reseller's copy of the terms. Only US residents with a US payment method can use it.
For a month or more, a hotel booked with StaySats has neither limit. You pay from your crypto balance, and the hotel's rates decide the length of stay. Gift cards, crypto cards and hotels are compared on does Airbnb accept crypto?.
Can I book a hotel with crypto in Bali or Thailand if paying on the spot is not allowed?
Yes, because you book online before you travel and never pay the hotel in crypto. You pay StaySats in crypto, and we pay the hotel in rupiah or baht. The local rules target crypto used as money at the counter. In Indonesia, crypto may be held as an asset but not used to pay (Law 7/2011 on Currency).
In Thailand, the TouristDigiPay sandbox lets tourists convert crypto to baht, and merchants are paid in baht only. Either way, pay extras at the hotel in local currency or by card.
Why are hotels in Spain not available?
Because Spanish law makes booking intermediaries report guest and payment details to the Ministry of the Interior through SES.HOSPEDAJES, within 24 hours (Royal Decree 933/2021). Our registration is not done yet. So Spain's telework visa is real, but you can't book Barcelona, Madrid or Palma hotels with us for now. The reason and the date of any change are on where we can't sell hotels.
Will the hotel ask for my passport on a long stay?
Yes, as on any stay. We ask only for the lead guest's name and an email address; there is no ID upload and no selfie at our checkout. The hotel then applies local law at check-in.
Some countries add duties on the hotel's side. In Thailand, hotel managers must notify immigration of a foreign guest within one day: the TM30 notice under Section 38 of the Immigration Act. In Japan, foreign guests without an address in Japan give their passport for a copy. Country rules are on hotel ID rules.
Is paying for accommodation in crypto taxable for a nomad?
Paying in crypto may be a taxable event in your country. Check local rules. A nomad visa can also set conditions on where your income comes from. Colombia's visa, for example, is for remote workers whose pay does not come from Colombia. Read the official page of your visa, and ask a tax adviser in your country of tax residence. We do not give tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Which digital nomad visa has the highest income requirement?
Japan's, of the 9 we checked on official pages. It asks for an annual income of at least 10 million yen, for a stay of up to 6 months with no extension. Malaysia's DE Rantau Nomad Pass has the lowest stated threshold, USD 24,000 a year for tech roles and USD 60,000 for other roles. Spain asks for 200% of its minimum wage.
Can I use a digital nomad visa in Bali and pay my hotel in crypto?
You can pay StaySats in crypto, and we pay the hotel in rupiah. Paying the hotel itself in crypto on the spot is banned in Indonesia. There, crypto may be held as an asset but not used to pay. Indonesia's Remote Worker visa (E33G) is listed on the official eVisa site; check its income rule there.
Do I need a card for a long hotel stay paid in crypto?
Not to book: you pay from your crypto balance, and the full total of the stay is held, then charged when the hotel confirms. At check-in, many hotels ask for a card or a cash deposit for extras, and on a long stay the deposit can be larger. Ask the hotel which deposits it accepts before you arrive.
How long can I stay in Thailand on the DTV?
Up to 180 days per entry, extendable once by up to 180 days, on a visa valid 5 years with multiple entries. Applicants show funds of at least 500,000 baht. After 180 plus 180 days, you must leave Thailand and re-enter on the same DTV before it expires, per a Royal Thai Embassy page.
Is the Korean workation visa a good fit for Seoul long stays?
It suits people employed by, or owning, a foreign company for more than one year. A Korean embassy page dated January 1, 2026 asks for income above twice the previous year's GNI per capita, which was KRW 52,416,000 for 2025. The visa is valid 1 year. The press reported changes in July 2026, so confirm with the immigration service.
Which coins can I use for a long stay?
BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC. USDT works on Tron (TRC-20) or Ethereum (ERC-20), and USDC on Ethereum. We do not accept Monero, Lightning, cards or bank transfers. Send each coin only on the network shown on the payment page. Unused balance never expires, so you can top up once for several bookings in a row.
What if my plans change in the middle of a long stay?
The rate rules decide. If you cancel a refundable rate, the amount the hotel refunds, minus its penalty, goes back to your balance. A non-refundable rate returns nothing. If the hotel can't host you, you get 100% of the stay back. You choose USDT or USDC within 7 days of your request, or balance credit.
Why is Spain on the visa list if I can't book hotels there?
Because the visa exists and many nomads ask about it. Spain's telework visa asks for 200% of the minimum wage, EUR 2,368 a month in 2025. Hotels in Spain are not available on StaySats yet, because our registration with the SES.HOSPEDAJES guest register is not done. We say so instead of hiding it.
Can I book a long stay from Argentina or Nigeria?
Yes, the same way as from anywhere else we serve: you pay from your crypto balance, and we pay the hotel. Two guides add local facts with sources. Hotels abroad from Argentina covers Brazil's digital guest form. Hotels abroad from Nigeria covers the London hotel register.
Sources (15)
- Designated Activities (Digital Nomad) — Immigration Services Agency of Japan (checked 2026-10-12)
- Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) — Royal Thai Embassy, Phnom Penh (checked 2026-10-12)
- FAQ DE Rantau Pass (v9) — Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) (checked 2026-10-12)
- Remote Work Visa — Abu Dhabi Residents Office (checked 2026-10-12)
- Workation (F-1-D) visa — Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Canada (checked 2026-10-12)
- Telework visa — Embassy of Spain in Jamaica (checked 2026-10-12)
- Autorização de residência para o exercício de atividade profissional prestada de forma remota — AIMA (Portugal) (checked 2026-10-12)
- La visa para nómadas digitales ya es una realidad — Cancillería de Colombia (2022-08-04)
- Visa selection (Remote Worker) — Directorate General of Immigration, Indonesia (checked 2026-10-12)
- BTC Map, places API (v4) — BTC Map (checked 2026-10-12)
- TM30 form and permanent residence — Mondaq (2019-11-14)
- Royal Decree 933/2021 (guest register) — Boletín Oficial del Estado (2021)
- U.S. Gift Card Terms and Conditions (updated July 29, 2025) — Airbnb Help Center (checked 2026-10-12)
- Airbnb USA gift card (reseller copy of the terms) — Bitrefill (checked 2026-10-12)
- Payment Token Services Regulation (Circular 2/2024) — Central Bank of the UAE, rulebook (checked 2026-10-12)