Binance-backed Travala.com, a popular online travel booking platform, is looking into a potential acquisition valued at $100 million. While nothing is set in stone yet, advisors for Travala are talking with other major travel companies about this possible deal.
The future of Travala.com is a bit uncertain. This blockchain-based travel service offers a wide range of products. Reports suggest that Booking.com once considered buying Travala but decided against it. Now, discussions with other interested buyers are ongoing. However, a successful sale isn't guaranteed, and Travala might choose to stay independent.
Founded in 2017, Travala.com provides over 3 million travel products in more than 230 countries. It accepts payments in various cryptocurrencies, including its own token, AVA. Industry insiders believe that Travala could be worth over $100 million in an acquisition, thanks to its strong financial performance.
Last year, Travala generated revenue exceeding $100 million. Analysts expect even more growth in 2025. This optimism comes from the rising use of cryptocurrency payments and the growing interest in blockchain-based travel services.
Binance holds a significant share in Travala.com, which means its influence will be key in any acquisition talks. Binance's approval will likely be necessary for any deal to move forward.
Recently, Travala's AVA token saw a remarkable 300% price increase in just an hour. This surge followed an announcement from former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) about Binance's investment in Travala before the pandemic. This news coincided with Travala surpassing $100 million in gross annual revenue, a big jump from $59.6 million in 2023. The company credits this success to more flight and hotel bookings, which can be paid for using over 100 cryptocurrencies.
However, since that peak, AVA's price has struggled to maintain its momentum. Its market cap has dropped to $48.7 million from a high of $180 million on December 13. Still, Travala has rolled out many innovations in decentralized travel since its launch. In 2021, they introduced Dtravel, a decentralized booking platform that competes with Airbnb.
Dtravel runs on blockchain technology and allows homeowners and renters to share ownership through the TRVL token. This token gives users ownership and voting rights in the platform's governance. Dtravel is currently available on Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain. Earlier today, Solana also integrated with the platform, allowing stablecoin payments using USDC and USDT.
In 2020, Travala.com partnered with Viator, a leading provider of tours and activities and a subsidiary of Tripadvisor. This partnership significantly expanded the travel options for Travala users. However, the company's growth initiatives have been relatively slow over the past three years. Larger travel platforms continue to dominate the market with extensive deals.
So, a potential acquisition could help the Travala brand speed up its growth.