Reviewed by Joseph Hellman-Benjamin, Founder and CEO. Last reviewed: October 10, 2026. Editorial Policy
Short answer: no airline loyalty program converts miles into Bitcoin, so the only way to do it is to sell the miles to someone who pays in crypto. Selling miles is not against the law in the United States, but it is against the rules of virtually every program, and a crypto payment adds risks of its own. The Points King buys miles and pays by PayPal only. We do not pay in Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency.
How a Miles-for-Bitcoin Sale Works
A buyer quotes a price per mile, you transfer the miles as agreed, and the buyer pays you. In a crypto deal the payment arrives in Bitcoin instead of dollars. The buyer then uses the miles to book travel for someone else.
The airline is not part of the arrangement. No major loyalty program offers Bitcoin as a redemption option, so every deal of this kind runs through a third party.
Based on the risks set out on this page. The Points King pays by PayPal only; we do not pay in Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency.
Is It Legal?
Selling your miles is not a crime in the United States. It does break the contract you accepted when you joined the program. An airline that finds a sale can cancel the miles, cancel tickets booked with them and close the account. Our guide to what airline program rules say about selling miles goes through the major programs one by one.
Being paid in Bitcoin changes none of that. The program’s rules apply to the sale, whatever the payment method.
What a Crypto Payment Adds to the Risk
- Nothing can be reversed. A Bitcoin transfer is final, and so is a transfer of miles. If either side fails to deliver, there is no bank or payment company to complain to.
- The price can move. Bitcoin’s dollar value can change between the quote and the payment. Settle in advance whether the price is fixed in dollars or in Bitcoin.
- You may not know who the buyer is. A buyer who pays only in crypto is harder to identify than one with a business address and a payment account in its own name. Check who runs the business and where its reviews are. Our comparison of mileage brokers lists what to ask.
Do Airlines Accept Crypto at All?
At least one does, for tickets. In July 2026 Emirates began accepting Crypto.com Pay for flights booked on emirates.com and in its app, for eligible UAE residents paying in dirhams, according to an Emirates press release. That is crypto used to buy a cash fare. It has nothing to do with Skywards miles, and it does not let anyone turn miles into crypto.
What The Points King Does Instead
We buy airline miles and credit card points for cash and pay by PayPal. The price we agree with you in writing by email is the price we pay once your transfer is complete, and payment usually follows within 15 minutes. Our minimum purchase is 50,000 miles or points.
If Bitcoin is what you want, you can buy it yourself with the cash. That keeps the sale of your miles and the purchase of crypto as two separate transactions, each with its own record.
Before you sell, read the risks of selling miles and points. Then see how selling miles for cash works with us.
From the sections on this page about the added risk of a crypto payment and what The Points King does instead. We pay by PayPal only and do not pay in Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency. Read the risks of selling miles and points before you sell anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert airline miles directly into Bitcoin?
No. No major airline program offers crypto as a redemption option. A miles-for-Bitcoin deal is a sale to a third party.
Does The Points King pay in Bitcoin?
No. We pay by PayPal only.
Is selling airline miles illegal?
Not under United States law, but it is against the rules of virtually every loyalty program, and the airline can close your account.
Can I buy flights with Bitcoin?
On at least one. Emirates began accepting Crypto.com Pay in July 2026 for eligible UAE residents. That is payment for a ticket, not a way to cash out miles.