On September 3, Nasdaq-listed Webus International Limited announced a strategic partnership with Air China, with the most eye-catching term being Webus's plan to introduce Ripple (XRP) payments for its overseas travel service platform in the future, serving Air China's tens of millions of "Phoenix Miles" members worldwide. Against the backdrop of strict restrictions on cryptocurrency trading and usage in China, the association between Air China and XRP undoubtedly stirred significant waves in the cryptocurrency and aviation industries both in China and globally. This is not merely a simple loosening of China's regulatory policies, but rather a grand and cautious picture: Chinese enterprises are carefully exploring and laying out the future of the overseas crypto economy through innovative models, navigating between strict policy red lines and the global Web3 wave.
- Breaking the Deadlock: Key Terms of "Curved" Layout on Overseas Platforms and Compliance Prerequisites
The core of the cooperation between Webus and Air China lies in Webus's high-end travel service brand Wetour providing airport pick-up and high-end car services for Air China's "Phoenix Miles" members and global passengers. The role of cryptocurrency is cleverly placed within a framework that is forward-looking yet filled with prerequisites.
The announcement clearly states that the entity implementing XRP payment support is Webus, not Air China directly accepting XRP. More critically, the service platform is limited to Wetour's "overseas platform," precisely confining the application scenario to regions outside mainland China. Furthermore, the plan is not immediately effective but is a "forward-looking" initiative, and the entire process is explicitly "subject to future business development and regulatory compliance."
Webus CEO Zheng Nan stated that this move aims to "build a travel ecosystem integrated with Ripple," and is expected to bring travelers faster settlement speeds, tokenized rewards, and blockchain certificates directly linked to membership rights.
This series of cautious wording is not coincidental; it reflects a profound understanding and avoidance of China's strict regulatory policies. It is well known that China explicitly prohibits any form of cryptocurrency trading and payment activities. As a state-owned enterprise directly regulated by the central government, Air China cannot accept cryptocurrencies like XRP in its domestic core business (such as ticket sales and domestic loyalty services).
Therefore, the "overseas platform" becomes the key to establishing the entire cooperation model. This design means that "Phoenix Miles" members located overseas, in countries and regions where cryptocurrency regulations allow, may use XRP to pay for Wetour's car services. This cleverly isolates the application scenario of cryptocurrency from the regulatory red lines within China, allowing Air China to indirectly participate in the global Web3 innovation wave without violating domestic laws. This model demonstrates a high level of business acumen: core business adheres to local compliance while exploring and applying cutting-edge technology within permissible limits through international partners or overseas branches.
- A New Paradigm of "Going Global": Cautious Exploration of the Global Crypto Economy by Chinese Enterprises
The cooperation between Webus and Air China is by no means an isolated case. It reveals an increasingly clear trend: in the face of strict regulations in the domestic market, more and more Chinese enterprises with an international perspective are cautiously and actively embracing the global crypto economy through similar "going global" models. This strategy of "blooming inside the wall while fragrant outside" allows them to selectively capture incremental opportunities in overseas markets while maintaining stability and compliance in domestic operations, avoiding being completely left behind in the global technological wave.
For example, leading Chinese supply chain fintech company Linklogis announced in August 2025 that it would integrate its trillion-dollar supply chain finance platform with the XRP Ledger for the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA), global payments, and trade financing. Its logic is similar to that of Webus—utilizing blockchain technology to optimize its vast international business while still adhering to domestic regulations.
These cases collectively outline a new paradigm: enterprises focus the application of blockchain and crypto assets on cross-border payments, international trade, and overseas user services, leveraging their efficiency and low-cost characteristics to enhance their competitiveness in the global market. This is both an active exploration of cutting-edge technology and a pragmatic choice for seeking innovative development within the existing regulatory framework.
However, despite the "hype" surrounding this cooperation, the cryptocurrency market's reaction has been relatively calm. After the announcement, XRP's price did not experience the anticipated surge. Analysts believe that the market has become more mature, able to discern the gap between "cooperation announcements" and "full implementation." Investors clearly see that the implementation of this plan faces complex regulatory approvals worldwide, and there is significant uncertainty regarding the actual user adoption scale and timeline. Additionally, there have been precedents for cooperation between the aviation industry and cryptocurrencies, such as AirAsia and KLM, but none have had a lasting and profound impact on the market.
Nevertheless, we should not underestimate the long-term significance of this cooperation. If the model of Webus and Air China can be successfully implemented, it will set an important benchmark for the integration of loyalty programs in the global aviation and tourism industry with Web3 solutions. It will specifically demonstrate how to use cryptocurrency to provide tangible value to a global user base of tens of millions—better payment experiences, more attractive tokenized incentives, and more transparent value transfers.
- Opening a New Era for Phoenix Miles Members: Innovation in XRP Payments and Loyalty Programs
Webus International Ltd. collaborates with Air China to provide Ripple (XRP) payment services for "Phoenix Miles" members, ushering in a new era of travel experiences. This cooperation is not just an improvement; it is a reawakening of how over 60 million travelers navigate complex booking and reward processes. With a commitment to fast transactions and simplified payments, this collaboration challenges the status quo, opening a world where "convenience determines value."
The integration of XRP payments offers Air China's loyalty members the opportunity to revolutionize their transaction methods. By leveraging Ripple's cutting-edge technology, travelers can not only reduce transaction costs but also enjoy lightning-fast payment settlements. This advancement is not merely a shift in payment methods; it is a commitment to enhancing user experience and making digital currency a key element of travel services. As the demand for seamless payment solutions grows, this alliance marks a significant leap in the acceptance of cryptocurrency in the travel sector—this turning point could ultimately reshape the loyalty programs of countless travelers.
The collaboration between Webus and Air China introduces tokenized rewards, a revolutionary concept that is set to fundamentally change the framework of loyalty programs. By leveraging the advantages of blockchain technology, Air China can develop redeemable rewards that extend beyond its own brand and potentially collaborate with numerous partner entities. This forward-looking approach reshapes traditional point systems, encouraging "Phoenix Miles" members to engage more deeply. The appeal of tokenized rewards can enhance loyalty and improve customer satisfaction, positioning Webus and Air China at the forefront of the travel loyalty revolution in today's digital landscape.
- Navigating the Regulatory Maze and XRP Market Dynamics
Despite the exciting potential of cryptocurrency in the travel sector, it faces a significant challenge: regulatory compliance. The successful launch of XRP payments requires deft navigation through the intricate regulatory network of digital currencies across various industries. Both Webus and Air China emphasize their adherence to these important regulations, aiming to create a safe environment for users willing to adopt this innovative payment solution. Their approach serves as an outstanding example, demonstrating that controlling legality can both mitigate risks and pave the way for transformation and integration in mature industries like aviation.
In the digital asset market, the situation of Ripple (XRP) is both fascinating and precarious. XRP's trading price is approximately $2.84, with a market capitalization nearing $169.21 billion, showing significant volatility. Recent trends indicate that XRP has dropped 4.71% in the past week but has achieved an astonishing 35.79% increase over the past 90 days. This high volatility underscores the speculative nature of cryptocurrencies and reminds all stakeholders of the importance of keenly understanding XRP's fluctuations when formulating operational and investment strategies in this dynamic partnership.
The cryptocurrency community is filled with anticipation for this latest collaboration, eagerly awaiting the surge in transaction volume that the integration of Ripple and the travel industry may bring. Recent news of Ripple's collaboration with major financial institutions like Linklogis has further fueled this enthusiasm. Many users are confident that these advancements will lead to efficient travel experiences and lay the groundwork for broader cryptocurrency integration across various industries. As this collaboration fully taps into the growing potential of blockchain technology, it is expected to redefine the intersection of digital finance and traditional business, opening new horizons for future possibilities.
Conclusion:
The news of Air China and XRP payments reveals far more than the headline of "an airline accepting cryptocurrency." It is not a story of radical adoption but rather one of skillful strategic navigation within a complex regulatory environment. It clearly demonstrates that leading Chinese enterprises are not blind to the technological revolution of Web3; instead, they are cautiously extending their feelers in a highly pragmatic, extremely cautious, and creative manner, exploring their own path to the future. This "payment experiment" taking place on overseas platforms will ultimately create ripples that not only provide new ideas for the digital transformation of the aviation industry but also offer a precious and thought-provoking template for observing how large Chinese enterprises navigate the global Web3 wave while adhering to policy bottom lines and striving not to be left behind by the times. A bold step into the unknown future, the travel payment sector is not only beginning to shine but is also undergoing a transformation, leading millions toward a future where digital currency becomes the key to exploration and adventure.
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Original Article: “Air China Tests the Waters with XRP Payments, A New Paradigm for Chinese Enterprises Going Global”
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