American Express Could Offer Ethereum-Based NFT Passport Stamps to Help U.S. Cardholders Commemorate Travel

• What it is: ERC-721 travel stamps issued by American Express on Base

• Eligibility: US Amex consumer cardholders linked to their online account; stamps cannot be transferred.

• Privacy & data: Stamps show country, description and date; personal trip details are not stored on-chain. Data referenced from BaseScan and American Express statements.

Amex Passport NFT travel stamps let American Express cardholders collect ERC-721 keepsakes on Base — check eligibility and claim your digital passport stamps today.

American Express cardholders can now receive NFT passport stamps showing the countries they’ve visited as a way to commemorate their past travels.

Payments company American Express has launched blockchain-based stamps for customers as a digital keepsake of their travels.

Each travel stamp will be stored as an ERC-721 non-fungible token on the Ethereum layer-2 Base to preserve their travel history and their favorite overseas memories, according to the company’s website.

“Part of the magic of travel is reminiscing about past getaways, and commemorative keepsakes are a powerful way for travelers to relive their favorite trips,” Amex Digital Labs Executive Vice President Luke Gebb said on Monday.

“As physical passport stamps continue to disappear, Amex Passport creates an opportunity for Card Members to celebrate their travels.”

Each stamp can be customized to highlight the best experiences from each trip, such as a special attraction, standout meal, or hotel stay, or favorite activity, Amex said.

Only those holding a US Amex consumer card linked to their online account are eligible for the Amex Passport, and the NFTs can not be transferred.

Examples of Amex passport stamps. Source: American Express

Each stamp will only show the country or region of the stamp, stamp description, and the date of when the stamp was earned, Amex said, adding that personal information and trip details won’t be visible on Base.

Data from Base’s block explorer, BaseScan, shows that the Amex travel stamp smart contract was created 25 days ago.

The development is the latest example of a public blockchain helping corporations and their users securely store data without a centralized server.

Last month, the US Department of Commerce said it would start publishing economic statistics, including gross domestic product data, on the blockchain.

What is Amex Passport NFT and who can get it?

Amex Passport NFT is a program that issues non-transferable ERC-721 travel stamps to eligible US American Express consumer cardholders. Cardholders with an account linked to their Amex profile receive customizable on‑chain stamps showing country, description and date; personal trip details are kept off‑chain.

How do Amex Passport travel stamps work?

Stamps are minted as ERC-721 tokens on Base, an Ethereum layer-2 network, enabling permanent proof of a visited country and a short description. According to on-chain data from BaseScan, a dedicated smart contract was deployed recently to manage minting, while American Express handles user eligibility and customization.

Why are travel stamps being tokenized?

Tokenizing stamps provides an immutable digital keepsake without storing sensitive travel data on a centralized server. American Express positions the program as a modern alternative to disappearing physical passport stamps and a way for Card Members to share memories on social platforms or save them locally.

NFT travel stamps coincide with demand for digital keepsakes — what do surveys show?

Amex survey data indicates demand: 73% of respondents wanted more digital ways to commemorate trips, and 56% said they missed receiving passport stamps at arrivals. Those statistics informed Amex’s decision to pilot the Passport program for eligible cardholders.

Examples of hotel stamps for Amex customers traveling overseas. Source: American Express

Amex travel stamps can be shared on social media or saved to a camera roll, and trips booked through Amex up to two years ago will be automatically added for customers.

How is crypto being integrated into the tourism sector?

The crypto travel vertical remains niche but is expanding. Recent industry moves include crypto-native platforms enabling payments for large hotel inventories and data from Travala showing crypto users spend more on average per stay. Triple-A reported that 14% of crypto transactions were spent on travel and hospitality in 2024.

These market signals suggest growing merchant and consumer interest in blockchain-enabled travel products and payment options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How private are Amex Passport NFT travel stamps?

Stamps display only country/region, a short description and the date; American Express says personal trip details and identifying information are not stored on Base. On‑chain visibility is limited to the stamp metadata.

Can I share my Amex Passport stamps on social media?

Yes. Stamps can be shared directly on social channels or saved to a camera roll for sharing. The on-chain token itself is non-transferable, but images and exports are shareable.

Key Takeaways

• Digital keepsake: Amex Passport NFTs create immutable travel mementos without exposing personal trip data.
• Eligibility & privacy: Only US Amex consumer cardholders with linked accounts qualify; stamps show limited metadata.
• Broader trend: The move reflects growing blockchain adoption in travel payments and record-keeping.

Conclusion

The Amex Passport NFT program demonstrates how major financial services firms are using ERC-721 tokens on layer-2 networks like Base to offer verifiable, private travel keepsakes. COINOTAG will monitor adoption, on-chain activity and user experience as the program rolls out to eligible American Express cardholders. Check your Amex account to see if stamps are available and how to claim them.