Quick answer
Where can't you buy flights with crypto?
As of October 12, 2026, SatFares, a flight booking site paid only in crypto, sells no flight to, from or within Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, Syria. The same applies to Crimea and the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, and to sanctioned airlines. Countries paused at launch, for flights to and from them: the United Kingdom. Separately, countries such as China, Turkey, Indonesia and Vietnam ban or restrict paying in crypto for their own residents.
Restrictions in 9 lines (October 12, 2026)
| Sanctioned countries: never sold | Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, Syria |
|---|---|
| Sanctioned areas: never sold | Crimea, Sevastopol and the Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson |
| Sanctioned airlines: never sold | All Iranian airlines, Air Koryo, Conviasa, and Russian and Belarusian airlines |
| Latest US action on airlines | 27 Iranian airlines designated by the US Treasury on September 8, 2026 |
| Paused at launch | the United Kingdom: selling flight-only tickets there requires ATOL arrangements; flights are not ATOL protected |
| Stablecoin freezes | Tether has frozen addresses designated by OFAC since December 2023; Circle also freezes USDC |
| Countries that ban paying in crypto (examples) | China; Turkey since April 30, 2021; Indonesia and Vietnam (crypto is not a lawful means of payment) |
| Licence | CC BY 4.0: free to reuse with a link to this page |
| Updates | Each row shows the date of its rule; we update a row when we see a change or a reader sends us a source |
Where we can't sell: the full list
We can't sell flights to, from or within Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, Syria, and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine (Crimea, Sevastopol and parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions), or on sanctioned airlines. Bookings for listed persons are refused.
| Destination or airline | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, Syria, Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine (Crimea, Sevastopol and parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions) | Not available (sanctions) | International sanctions: we sell no travel to, from or within this destination. |
| United Kingdom | Not available yet | Flights to and from the United Kingdom are not available yet: selling flight-only tickets there requires ATOL arrangements that we have not put in place. |
| Mahan Air, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Airlines, Qeshm Air, Kish Air, Air Koryo, Conviasa, Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines, Ural Airlines, S7 Airlines, Pobeda, Belavia | Not available (sanctions) | International sanctions: these airlines are never sold. |
List as of October 12, 2026. Only two things block a sale: sanctions and the launch pause for the United Kingdom. Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz Air and AirAsia can be booked on request.
Which countries and airlines are under sanctions, and why?
We block a destination or an airline when US, EU or UK sanctions make selling it unlawful or too risky. TravelGoat LLC is a US company, so US sanctions (OFAC) apply to us. EU rules apply to EU nationals wherever they are, and UK rules to UK persons.
In short: we can't sell travel to, from or within Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, Syria, Crimea and the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, or on sanctioned airlines. The table below gives the rule and the date behind each line.
The rule behind each block
| Country, area or airline | What we block | Rule | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | Every flight to, from or within Iran; every Iranian airline | US Treasury designated 27 Iranian airlines under Executive Order 13902, including Iran Air Tour, Iran Aseman, Kish Air, Qeshm Air, Zagros, Fly Kish, Taban, Ata, Ava, Mehr and Air Shiraz. Mahan Air has been designated since 2011 | 2026-09-08 |
| Iran (aviation and digital assets) | As above | OFAC extended Executive Order 13902 to the aviation and digital asset sectors, among others | 2026-08-24 |
| North Korea | Every flight; Air Koryo | Air Koryo on the OFAC SDN list (DPRK3 programme) | 2016-12-02 |
| Cuba | Every flight to, from or within Cuba | US Cuba sanctions; the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List bars persons under US law from booking listed places for others (11 additions) | 2025-07-14 |
| Russia | Every flight to, from or within Russia; Russian airlines such as Aeroflot, Rossiya, Ural, S7 and Pobeda | EU: Russian carriers may not land in, take off from or fly over the EU (Regulation 833/2014, Article 3d). UK: assets of Aeroflot, Rossiya and Ural frozen | UK: 2022-05-19 |
| Belarus | Every flight; Belarusian airlines such as Belavia | EU ban on Belarusian carriers. The US removed Belavia from the SDN list on 2025-11-04; we keep the block under EU law | EU: 2021-06-05 |
| Crimea, Sevastopol and the occupied areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson | Every flight, including Simferopol airport (SIP) | EU ban on tourism services (Regulation 692/2014 as amended by 1351/2014; Regulation 2022/263) | 2014; 2022 |
| Conviasa (Venezuela) | Conviasa tickets | On the OFAC SDN list since February 2020. General License 59 authorises most transactions; sources disagree on a delisting, so we keep the block until confirmed | 2026-06-18 |
| Syria | Every flight to, from or within Syria; Syrian airlines such as Syrian Air and Cham Wings | Blocked by caution: the US programme was terminated by Executive Order 14312 and EU economic sanctions were lifted, but asset freezes and other measures remain | US: 2025-06-30; EU: 2025-05-28 |
Rules as of October 12, 2026. Sources for each row are listed at the bottom of this page. This page is information, not legal advice.
Why are flights to and from the United Kingdom paused?
Because selling flight-only tickets there requires ATOL arrangements that we have not put in place. Paused at launch: the United Kingdom. This is a pause, not a sanction.
It means no flight departing from or arriving in the United Kingdom can be booked with us for now. Jet2, an airline that flies to and from the United Kingdom, is affected by this pause. Our other flights are not ATOL protected either. Each SatFares booking is a single travel service, so EU package travel protection does not apply. See is this a package?.
In which countries is paying in crypto banned or restricted?
Some countries ban or restrict paying with crypto, and the rule applies to their residents. This is a rule of your country, not of the destination. We have not verified how each rule applies when a resident pays a seller abroad online. If you live in one of these countries, check your local law before you pay in crypto. Paying in crypto may be a taxable event in your country.
Countries where paying in crypto is banned or restricted
Lists vary from one source to another. Each row gives its source and date.
| Country | Rule on paying in crypto | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| China (mainland) | All crypto activity banned. Trip.com excludes mainland China from its stablecoin payments | Ban: Library of Congress report, November 2021; Trip.com: 2025 | Decrypt (Library of Congress report); tech.az |
| Turkey | Crypto payments banned by the central bank; still described as in force in 2026 | Since 2021-04-30 | The Block; Alyar law firm (2026) |
| Indonesia | Crypto allowed as an asset, banned as a means of payment (Law 7/2011 on currency). Bali announced sanctions against tourists who pay in crypto | Bali: May 2023 | Antara |
| Vietnam | Crypto is not a lawful means of payment, and using it as one is prohibited (State Bank of Vietnam). Fine of 150 to 200 million VND for using an illegal means of payment (Decree 88/2019, Article 26). Holding crypto assets is recognised in law since 2026-01-01 | State Bank statement: 2017-10; fine: Decree 88/2019 | Việt Nam News; Duane Morris (2024); Allen & Gledhill |
| Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Iraq, Qatar, Bangladesh, Nepal | "Absolute ban" on crypto, per the Library of Congress report; not updated since | November 2021 | Decrypt (Library of Congress report) |
| Russia | EU ban on crypto wallet, account and custody services for Russian nationals and residents | Since 2022-10-07 | Decrypt |
| Thailand | TouristDigiPay sandbox: tourists convert crypto into baht; the authorities say crypto does not become a direct means of payment. 2026 status not found | Announced 2025-08-18, for 18 months | The Block |
Rules as of October 12, 2026, per the sources in each row.
Does paying in crypto change sanctions rules?
No. Sanctions law applies whatever the payment method. We can't sell travel to, from or within Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, Syria, Crimea and the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, or on sanctioned airlines. A stop in a blocked country is a flight to and from that country, so we never sell it either.
Stablecoin issuers also act on sanctions. Tether has frozen addresses designated by OFAC since December 2023. Circle also freezes USDC, including on court orders. A frozen address can't move its USDT or USDC.
The US Treasury publishes its sanctions lists, with a free search tool, on the OFAC Sanctions List Service. Check it if you have a doubt about a person or a company.
How do we keep this list up to date?
Each row shows the date of its rule, and the page shows the date of our last check. We update a row when we see a change or a reader sends us a source. The page date changes only after a real check.
We read official notices and specialist sources: the US Treasury, the Federal Register, EU regulations and aviation trade press. Rows marked with a press source are confirmed by the press, not by an official text we read. If you find an error, write to [email protected] with the source.
We sell airline tickets paid in crypto. This page also explains what we can't sell. It is information, not legal advice. You can reuse it under CC BY 4.0, with a link to this page.
Questions about sanctions and restrictions
Can I buy a flight to Russia, Iran or Cuba with crypto?
Not with SatFares. We sell no flight to, from or within Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, Syria, Crimea or the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. We also sell no ticket on a sanctioned airline, such as Mahan Air, Air Koryo or Aeroflot. Paying in crypto does not change sanctions law.
Can Russians book flights with crypto?
No, not for any flight to, from or within Russia. SatFares sells none of these flights, and no ticket on a Russian airline such as Aeroflot. Paying in crypto does not change sanctions law. Before booking, we also check every traveller name against sanctions lists. If a name matches, the booking is refused.
Which Iranian airlines are sanctioned?
On September 8, 2026, the US Treasury designated 27 Iranian airlines under Executive Order 13902. They include Iran Air Tour, Iran Aseman, Kish Air, Qeshm Air, Zagros, Fly Kish, Taban, Ata, Ava, Mehr and Air Shiraz. Mahan Air has been designated since 2011. SatFares blocks every Iranian airline, designated or not.
Why can't I book a flight to or from London?
Flights to and from the United Kingdom are paused at launch. Selling flight-only tickets there requires ATOL arrangements that we have not put in place. This is not a sanction: it is our own launch decision. Our flights are not ATOL protected.
Can I fly with Belavia now that the US lifted its sanctions?
Not with SatFares. The US removed Belavia from its SDN list on November 4, 2025. The EU ban on Belarusian carriers, in force since June 5, 2021, still applies. We follow the stricter rule, so Belarusian airlines stay blocked. Belavia stays in our list of blocked airlines.
Do you sell flights to Venezuela or Syria?
No flights to, from or within Syria, by caution: US and EU economic sanctions on Syria were lifted in 2025, but asset freezes and other measures remain. Conviasa is also blocked: it has been on the OFAC SDN list since February 2020, and sources disagree on its status after General License 59. Other flights to Venezuela are not blocked by us: they can be searched in our live search, and our team books them on request.
Can I pay for a flight in crypto if I live in Turkey, China or Vietnam?
Your own country's law applies to you. Turkey's central bank has banned crypto payments since April 30, 2021. China bans all crypto activity. The State Bank of Vietnam says crypto is not a lawful means of payment, with fines of 150 to 200 million VND. If you live in one of these countries, check your local law before you pay in crypto.
Does Tether or Circle freeze sanctioned addresses?
Yes. Tether has frozen the addresses designated by OFAC since December 2023, per The Block. Circle also freezes USDC, including on court orders. A frozen address can't move its stablecoins. This is a rule of the stablecoin issuer, separate from our own list of places and airlines we can't sell.
Can a flight with a stopover in a blocked country be booked?
No. A stop in a blocked country is a flight to and from that country, and we can't sell travel to, from or within Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, Syria, Crimea or the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Choose another routing in the search. We never sell tickets on sanctioned airlines either.
Are low-cost airlines such as Ryanair or Wizz Air blocked?
No. Low-cost airlines are not under sanctions. Since October 12, 2026, airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, AirAsia, IndiGo and Spirit can be searched on SatFares and booked on request. Jet2 flies to and from the United Kingdom, so its flights are paused. Only sanctioned airlines are never sold.
Sources (29)
- Treasury action against Iranian airlines (press release sb0623) — US Department of the Treasury (2026-09-08)
- Treasury grounds Iranian airlines in sweeping sanctions action — Iran Watch (2026-09-08)
- OFAC suspends General License J-1 and grounds Iran's aviation sector — Holland & Knight (2026-09-09)
- Treasury cracks down on global networks enabling Iran's Mahan Air — Iran Watch (2026-10-12)
- OFAC recent actions, December 2, 2016 (Air Koryo) — US Treasury, OFAC (2016-12-02)
- Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List, additions (2025-13148) — Federal Register (2025-07-14)
- EU adopts 16th package of sanctions against Russia — National Law Review (2026-10-12)
- Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014, Article 13 (scope) — gesetze.legal (2026-10-12)
- UK targets Russian airlines with new sanctions — UK Government (2022-05-19)
- Europe bans all crypto wallet services for Russia — Decrypt (2022-10-07)
- US removes sanctions on Belavia — ch-aviation (2025-11-04)
- EU formalises bloc-wide ban on Belarusian carriers — ch-aviation (2021-06-05)
- Information note to EU business on Crimea and Sevastopol — Financial Analytical Office, Czech Republic (2026-10-12)
- Treasury sanctions Conviasa (press release sm903) — US Department of the Treasury (2020-02)
- US lifts sanctions on Venezuela's Conviasa — ch-aviation (2026-06-18)
- US government formally terminates economic sanctions on Syria — Cleary Gottlieb (2025-07)
- Syria: EU adopts legal acts to lift economic sanctions — European Commission (2025-05-28)
- OFAC Sanctions List Service — US Treasury, OFAC (2026-10-12)
- Tether freezes all OFAC-sanctioned wallets — The Block (2023-12)
- Circle froze 16 business hot wallets — AMLBot (2026-03)
- Over 50 countries have placed bans on crypto: Library of Congress report — Decrypt (2021-11)
- Turkey's central bank bans crypto payments — The Block (2021-04)
- Kripto para ile ödeme hukuku — Alyar law firm (2026)
- Bali to crack down on foreign tourists using crypto as payment — Antara (2023-05)
- SBV says bitcoin prohibited in Việt Nam — Việt Nam News (2017-10)
- Vietnam: Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, current situation and potential development — Duane Morris (2024-09-23)
- Vietnam establishes digital technology framework and launches crypto asset market pilot program — Allen & Gledhill (checked 2026-10-12)
- Thailand crypto-to-baht payment pilot for foreign tourists — The Block (2025-08-18)
- Trip.com starts accepting payments with stablecoins — tech.az (2025)