Think crypto’s just for tech geeks? Not anymore! Cryptocurrency is now something you can use daily, whether it’s grabbing your morning coffee or saving for the future. It’s not complicated—anyone can be a crypto whiz.

Here’s a stat to blow your mind: According to Exploding Topics, over 560 million people worldwide are into crypto, and 72% of them are under 34. Interesting right?

Curious about how to integrate crypto into your daily life? Keep reading to discover how you can use it like cash in no time!

Things You Need in Order To Use Crypto in Your Daily Life

In order to start using crypto in your everyday life, you’ll need a few things that will help make your experience smooth. Here are some of the essentials:

• Active digital wallet: Your digital wallet is just like your bank account. It is where you store, send, and receive crypto. The best ones are those that now let you pay for stuff directly using QR codes for quick and easy transactions.

• Crypto balance: Of course, you need some cryptocurrency in your wallet—be it Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other coin.

• Knowledge of exchange rates: The prices of crypto often fluctuate. So you always have to check exchange rates before you make a purchase or send money. With this, you will avoid paying more or getting less than you expected.

• Backup payment option: I have to be honest with you here. Not every place accepts crypto yet, so it’ll be good if you have a backup payment method like a debit card, just in case.

• Basic knowledge of blockchain: You don’t need to be an expert, but you have to know how blockchain works because it will help you to better understand why crypto transactions are secure and how you can process them.

Ways You Can Use Cryptocurrency in Your Daily Life

Here are some of the ways you can use crypto in everyday life:

1. Online Shopping

It has become very convenient to use crypto for online shopping. A lot of e-commerce stores now accept cryptocurrencies for their shops. With this, you can spend your digital coins just like real money. 

Overstock, which is a popular online retailer that works in many countries, including the UAE and USA, is a good example. When shopping on the website, you can pay using Bitcoin. But then, you need to have the main BTC in your online wallet.

Another example is Shopify, another e-commerce company that accepts crypto payments. This trend is growing because many people are beginning to see the value of spending their crypto rather than holding it forever. 

Apart from shopping, you can also use crypto to make different payments. As of 2022, according to a statistic from Statista, mobile data and airtime top-ups were the highest online use cases of crypto, with about 45.4% of users making use of crypto for that purpose. 43.7% used it for game items, 12.2% used it for gambling and betting, and about 5.6% used it for pharmacy and beauty.

The services online shoppers use crypto for as of 2022. Source: Statista.

So, with some crypto platforms, you can buy airtime, mobile data, shop for gift cards, and other things without even needing to register on the website.

2. Traveling

If you want to travel and pay for flights or hotels with crypto, it’s actually easier than you think. Now you can use cryptocurrencies to book flights, and even pay for stays at top hotels like One&Only Royal Mirage. You can also use it for renting cars in Dubai, Paris, and many other top cities in the world. 

How? Well, platforms like Travala and CheapAir are making it possible without any over-the-top charges. If you’re planning a weekend getaway or a global adventure, you can now do it without relying on traditional currencies and start using these cool new crypto based platforms.

According to Statista, the travel industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors for crypto use. In fact, Travala reported that about 65% of all bookings were made with crypto in March 2021. What’s cool is that with crypto transactions, you avoid the high fees and exchange rates that come with converting currencies while abroad.

In the UAE, travelers can use crypto to book hotels in Dubai through platforms like Travala, which lists popular options such as the Atlantis The Palm and One&Only Royal Mirage. This makes Dubai an even more attractive destination for crypto-savvy travelers.

Plus, with the rise of crypto debit cards, you can easily swipe your card anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted, while the crypto in your account gets automatically converted to local currency. It’s a very stress-free way to use crypto during your explorations.

3. Paying Bills

Yes, you can even pay your bills with crypto. More companies and platforms every day are making it possible to use your digital assets to cover everyday expenses like utility bills and even your rent. 

These crypto platforms also let you pay for things like electricity and Netflix subscriptions using Bitcoin and other cryptos no matter where you are. They partner with different service providers in the United Arab Emirates to make the use of crypto easy without the need to cash out first.

4. Sending Money Abroad

Generally, it is expensive and slow to send money from the United Arab Emirates to other countries, with banks charging high fees and imposing some strict restrictions. Then there is crypto; you can directly send funds to anyone in the world without having to worry about banks blocking or delaying your transfer. 

There are some UAE-based crypto platforms where you can send cryptocurrencies internationally with little to no transaction fee. This makes it a much faster and cheaper option for transferring money abroad because the recipient can get it in seconds.

5. Receiving Payments from Foreign Countries

Freelancers and remote workers are getting paid in cryptocurrency, and this trend is becoming more popular in the United Arab Emirates, especially in cross-border work. This helps avoid delays and high bank fees. Freelancers working with clients abroad can use some of the top exchanges to easily convert their crypto earnings into dirhams (AED) or keep them in digital form to directly use them in the future.

6. Receiving Wages in Crypto

The Dubai Court of First Instance recently ordered a company to pay an employee's outstanding salary in cryptocurrency (Ecowatt Tokens). That means they recognize crypto as a valid means to pay salary. 

With this ruling, more companies will start offering employees the option to receive their salary in cryptocurrency. This will give workers more flexibility in how they manage their earnings. If you receive your salary in crypto, you will be able to directly use the funds to pay for goods and services or invest them without the need to convert them back to fiat currency.

7. Shopping Offline

Palazzo Versace Hotel shows you can pay by crypto. Source: Palazzo Versace Hotel.

Many stores in the country now accept cryptocurrency for offline purchases. Palazzo Versace Hotel in Dubai, for instance, allows guests to pay for their stay using crypto. If you lodge there or any other hotel that accepts crypto, you can use your digital wallets and make quick, easy payments with no need for cash or credit cards. This is very convenient because I know you definitely prefer a cashless lifestyle.

Another thing you can use crypto to pay for offline is food and dining. A growing number of restaurants are accepting cryptocurrency payments. With Bake N More in Dubai, for example, you can pay for their meals with Bitcoin.

Whether you’re grabbing coffee or having lunch with friends, you can pay with crypto, and that will make it more convenient to dine out, eliminating the need to carry cash or worry about exchange rates.

8. Renting Cars

There are some car rental companies that now accept cryptocurrency as one of the forms of payment. One Click Drive is a good example. You can rent luxury cars with them and pay in Bitcoin or Ethereum. You will agree with me that this is a big step if you are one of the many people who want to integrate crypto into their lifestyle while enjoying premium services.

9. Investments

Many people first got into the crypto space through investments. The most common strategy is to buy and hold Bitcoin or Ethereum, but that is not the only one. You can also invest in other cryptos, such as altcoins like Solana, Cardano, or Chainlink. These coins have different features and potential profits.

What’s more, crypto has brought new investment opportunities, like DeFi. With DeFi platforms, you can lend or stake your crypto and earn interest—kind of like a high-tech savings account, but without the bank. For example, you can lend your crypto on platforms like Aave or Compound and get paid in return. 

Another option is to trade in Crypto if you’re looking for more active ways to invest. There are many traders taking advantage of the market’s volatility. You buy low and sell high, sometimes within the same day. But I have to warn you that trading is very risky. So, it’s essential to make sure you learn the basics before diving in.

10. Supporting Charities and Donations

There are a lot of charities and nonprofits that now accept cryptocurrency donations. Organizations like Al Jalila Foundation and The Giving Block have made it easy for people to donate their crypto to causes they care about. 

According to Fidelity Charitable, in 2021 alone, people donated crypto worth more than $300 million.  Whether it’s for climate change, education, or healthcare, you can use your digital assets to make a difference.

Save the Children, for instance, has been accepting Bitcoin donations since 2013. Other popular charities like UNICEF have also jumped on the crypto bandwagon because they see the potential to reach a younger, tech-clever audience who prefers digital donations.

Moreover, donating crypto most times does not come with tax. In the United Arab Emirates, crypto donations are treated like gifts of stock. What this means is that you won’t have to pay capital gains tax while helping out a good cause. 

How to Get Started With Crypto?

Before you even use crypto, you have to know how to set up a wallet and how to use the wallet. Your crypto wallet is just like a bank account. Here is how to set up and use it.

Setting Up Your Crypto Wallet

First thing first, to use crypto, you’ll need a digital wallet. It is a secure app that holds your crypto, just like a wallet for cash or cards. There are two different types of wallets to choose from:

• Hot wallets: These are connected to the internet and are great if you are a beginner. 

• Cold wallets: These are offline wallets. They are just like USB devices, and that makes them super secure. A good example is the Ledger Nano S.

The differences between hot wallets and cold wallets. Source: Statista.

Once you choose a wallet, you won't have much trouble setting it up. You have to download the app or connect the device, then create a strong password and back up your recovery phrase. This phrase is like a key to your wallet; if you lose it, you could lose access to your crypto. Write it down and store it somewhere safe.

Benefits of Using Crypto

There are lots of benefits you get when you make crypto part of your daily life. Some of these are:

• Lower charges: Traditional banks and other payment services charge high fees for transactions. It can be up to 1,000 AED especially if you are making international transfers. With crypto, fees are often much lower, and you can save a lot of money.

• Global access: Anyone who has internet access can use crypto, no matter where they are in the world. This makes it easy to send or receive money from and to the UAE, without having to worry about exchange rates or border restrictions.

• Fast transactions: Crypto transactions happen in minutes, no matter where you are and where you are sending them to. In contrast, traditional bank transfers in the UAE can take days, especially if you are sending to other countries. In fact, according to the Emirates Islamic Bank, foreign transfers take up to 2 to 3 working days to complete.

• Privacy: While not completely anonymous, with crypto, you can make transactions without the exchange sharing your personal details like with credit cards or banks.

The price history of Bitcoin. Source: Investopedia.

• Investment potential: Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have grown significantly over the past years. Many people have seen their investments multiply, and that makes it an attractive option if you are looking to build wealth.

• Decentralization: Unlike traditional currencies, crypto doesn’t rely on banks or governments. This means you have control over your money, and it’s not subject to national policies or inflation.

Bottom Line

There are many ways to use crypto from day to day. You can use it for online shopping, investments, and traveling. But then you have to know how to set up your wallet in order to make purchases, invest, and more. We have given you the basics of what you can use crypto for and why it is becoming a go-to for individuals.

Crypto might seem new, not too new, though, but with a little knowledge, you can confidently start using it for these services. Whether you’re paying for things, sending money abroad, or exploring new investments, cryptos are currencies you can use every day.

If you are ready to start, you first need to explore the crypto options, set up your wallet, and start spending your digital assets.