Shiba Inu (SHIB) has expanded its real-world use after being added as a payment method for car rentals through travel platform Travala, blockchain media outlet U.Today reported on Oct. 27 (local time).

With the addition, users can book rental cars at more than 50,000 locations worldwide and pay with SHIB. Travala said, "Take the wheel on your next trip," adding that users can rent cars at more than 50,000 locations worldwide and pay easily with SHIB. An accompanying image also included wording saying users can rent cars worldwide with SHIB.

Travala's move is seen as broadening Shiba Inu's travel-related uses. The media outlet did not specify whether lodging or general payments were being expanded, but adding car rentals as a new payment item increased the points where Shiba Inu is used within actual services.

Community reaction also followed. Key participants including Kuro, Shiba Xanders and Mazrael, members of the Shiba Inu Japan community, welcomed the change on X, formerly Twitter, and described it as an important milestone.

Development of payment tools within the Shiba Inu ecosystem also moved ahead. Community member Mazrael introduced "ShibPayment." The tool supports SHIB, BONE, LEASH and TREAT, and operates on 14 networks including Ethereum (ETH), Shibarium, Base (BASE) and Solana (SOL). Users can add a payment link or embedded button to a website or a WooCommerce plugin, and can also optionally apply a burn feature each time a sale occurs.

Despite the news, the market price did not extend gains. SHIB fell 0.13 percent over the past 24 hours to $0.00000484, as the broader crypto market showed volatility while digesting the start of the Federal Reserve's two-day monetary policy meeting and a series of economic data releases.

The Federal Reserve began a two-day meeting on Oct. 27, and an interest rate decision is expected on Oct. 28. Traders are leaning toward the view that policymakers will keep the current target range of 3.75 percent to 4 percent. They are also watching for signals on whether additional rate increases could be indicated before year-end. The federal funds futures market reflects a 90 percent chance of rates being held steady.

Market participants are expected to also watch remarks at a news conference by Chair Kevin Warsh after the rate decision. A release of the personal consumption expenditures price index, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, is also scheduled for Oct. 29, so the crypto market including SHIB is expected to be influenced by macro factors for the time being.

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