tl;dr
Webus International is leveraging XRP-powered blockchain technology to create a tokenized travel-rewards platform, solving the $100 billion problem of unclaimed loyalty points by enabling seamless, real-time value conversion across airlines, hotels, and mobility services.
**Webus International Aims to Unlock Trillions in Lost Loyalty Value with XRP-Powered Tokenized Travel Rewards**
Loyalty points, worth billions annually, are sitting idle in accounts worldwide, with over $100 billion in unredeemed rewards each year. Travelers earn miles, hotel points, and ride credits across airlines, hotels, and mobility apps, but fragmented systems make it difficult to track, combine, or spend these rewards. Now, Webus International, a Nasdaq-listed treasury company focused on XRP, is stepping in with a bold solution: a tokenized travel-reward exchange powered by the XRP stablecoin system.
### The Problem: Trapped Rewards and Fractured Systems
Every year, consumers accumulate hundreds of billions in loyalty credits, yet a significant portion goes unused. Hatem Kemali, co-founder of digital-rewards platform Resal, highlights the issue: “Points are trapped in broken, fragmented systems. Hard to track. Hard to combine. Hard to spend.” Traditional loyalty programs operate as closed economies, where miles from Emirates, hotel points from Marriott, or ride credits from Grab remain isolated. Consumers face limited redemption options, leading to frustration and wasted value.
Kemali notes that modern travelers now expect loyalty rewards to function like cash, not just discounts. “People want to use loyalty like money,” he says, emphasizing the shift in consumer expectations.
### Webus’s Vision: A Blockchain-Driven Solution
Webus aims to disrupt this inefficiency by creating a decentralized platform that tokenizes loyalty balances and enables real-time exchange across brands. By leveraging the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and XRP-based stablecoins, the company seeks to eliminate the friction of traditional reward systems.
According to Nan Zheng, CEO of Webus, the platform will “bring real-time, low-cost, and transparent value conversion to the travel rewards ecosystem.” Users could seamlessly convert miles, points, or credits into a universal digital currency, redeeming them across airlines, hotels, and mobility services without currency risk or manual reconciliation.
### The Role of XRP and Stablecoins
While Webus has not detailed specific stablecoins, the XRP Ledger is expected to play a central role. Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, pegged to the U.S. dollar and compatible with XRPL, could act as a bridge asset, facilitating instant cross-border settlements. This approach would bypass traditional banking systems, which often take days to process transactions, and instead enable near-instant value transfers.
Ripple’s settlement technology, designed to handle multi-currency congestion, aligns perfectly with Webus’s goals. By using XRP to bridge local currencies, the platform could reduce costs, improve liquidity, and give consumers “cash-like” control over their loyalty balances.
### Why XRP? A Strategic Fit
Ripple’s core stack was built to address the very challenges Webus is tackling. Its network allows institutions to move funds instantly without pre-funded accounts, a feature that could revolutionize loyalty reward systems. For Webus, this means a scalable, efficient infrastructure to connect disparate reward programs.
For Ripple, the partnership marks a broader push into real-world asset tokenization. RLUSD, introduced last year, offers enterprises a regulated, stable settlement option on the XRPL. By integrating this technology, Webus gains access to a reliable liquidity source, while Ripple expands XRP’s utility beyond institutional payments into consumer-facing ecosystems.
### A New Era for Loyalty Rewards
If successful, Webus could redefine how loyalty points are used. Instead of being static, underutilized assets, they could become a universal micro-currency for travel. This shift would not only benefit consumers but also airlines, hotels, and mobility providers, who could attract and retain customers with more flexible reward options.
As the travel industry recovers from the pandemic, Webus’s initiative could set a new standard for loyalty programs—transforming trapped value into liquid, accessible rewards. In doing so, it highlights the potential of stablecoins and blockchain to solve real-world problems, moving beyond speculative trading to power everyday transactions.
In an age where consumers demand flexibility and transparency, Webus’s XRP-powered platform may be the key to unlocking the true value of loyalty rewards.