American Express launches NFT travel stamps on Ethereum Layer-2 Base
American Express has unveiled Amex Passport, a new initiative that issues NFT travel stamps to U.S. cardholders as digital souvenirs of their journeys.
The stamps, built as ERC-721 tokens on Ethereum’s Layer-2 Base network, display the country or region visited, a description, and the date earned, but do not record any personal data, reports Crypto News.
Unlike traditional NFTs, the Amex stamps carry no monetary value and cannot be traded on secondary markets. Instead, they are accessible only through the Amex Travel App and automatically appear when cardholders make qualifying in-person purchases in 130 countries and regions using their Amex card or a linked digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Digital souvenirs replace disappearing passport stamps
Luke Gebb, Executive Vice President at Amex Digital Labs, described the project as a way to modernize the fading tradition of physical passport stamps. “Amex Passport creates an opportunity for Card Members to celebrate their travels,” Gebb said. Data from Base Explorer shows that the program has already seen traction, with over 20,000 NFTs issued in the 25 days since the smart contract was deployed. The rollout reflects a broader industry shift where NFTs are being used not as speculative assets, but as immutable digital collectibles designed to enhance loyalty and customer experience.
NFTs and tourism expand globally
Amex’s move follows other travel and tourism initiatives leveraging blockchain for digital mementos. In 2023, Lufthansa Group launched Polygon-based NFT rewards for passengers, while India’s railway service has issued NFT train tickets for special routes. South Korea’s Jeju Island is also exploring an NFT-based tourism resident card set to launch later in 2025, offering perks like discounts and subsidies.
For American Express, the NFT initiative is part of a broader crypto strategy that includes a partnership with Coinbase to issue the Coinbase One Card, offering Bitcoin cashback rewards of up to 4%. Together, these efforts highlight how legacy financial institutions are increasingly blending Web3 tools with consumer finance and travel experiences.
Recently we wrote that The non-fungible token (NFT) market saw a steep drop of more than $1.2 billion in valuation in one week, as Ethereum’s recent rally showed signs of cooling.
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