6th December 2023 – Following the success of their second annual Plan ₿ Forum, the City of Lugano, in collaboration with Tether Operations Limited (Tether), announced today that the city will now accept Bitcoin and Tether Tokens (USDt) as payment for all municipal transactions, such as taxes and fees.
While cryptocurrency payments in the Swiss city were previously reserved for transactions made on Lugano’s online portal, today’s announcement means that city residents can now pay all city invoices with Bitcoin and USDt without exceptions or limits on amounts. All previously issued and currently outstanding municipal invoices can also be paid with Bitcoin and USDt.
These new payment options are available through Lugano’s existing system of municipal payments. City residents and companies simply have to scan the corresponding QR code printed on the invoices, and they will be presented with the seamless and fully automated feature of settling their bill with Bitcoin or USDt.
“Lugano’s Plan ₿ is working, period. It fills me with pride to see Lugano continue to embrace the promise of Bitcoin and blockchain technology to make life more convenient and more prosperous for its residents. I look forward to watching Lugano continue to grow as a blockchain hub for the region, and seeing more communities around the globe follow Lugano’s example of innovation and economic liberty,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.
This initiative comes as part of Lugano’s strategic Plan ₿ initiative with Tether, the largest cryptocurrency company in the world. In October of this year, Lugano and Tether hosted the Plan ₿ Forum, a gathering of cryptocurrency enthusiasts and thought leaders, which welcomed 2,200 participants from over 50 nations. The forum was a resounding success, with over 350 retailers in Lugano adopting crypto payments and over 1,500 transactions being made using Bitcoin and Tether, reinforcing the global adoption of Bitcoin and the ongoing crusade for financial empowerment.
The city’s forward-thinking approach extends beyond taxes. All tickets, merchandise, food, and beverages at FC Lugano football matches will soon also be purchased with Bitcoin and USDt, thanks to the partnership between
Plan ₿ and FC Lugano
.
The City of Lugano and Tether are also working on several other initiatives, including a centrally located specialized hub for blockchain companies and startups, and scholarships for students interested in learning about blockchain development at local universities.
Lugano’s embrace of cryptocurrency is expected to reduce infrastructure costs, expand accessibility to global financial markets, and improve the transparency of products and services offered to its citizens. The city aims to become a model for real-world, daily blockchain usage on a wide scale.
For more information, visit
https://www.lugano.ch/ and https://tether.to/
.
About Plan ₿
Lugano’s Plan ₿ is a joint initiative between the City of Lugano and Tether to accelerate the use of and leverage bitcoin technology as the foundation to transform the city’s financial infrastructure.
The plan will scale blockchain and Bitcoin throughout the city to positively impact all facets of daily life for the residents of Lugano. From small transactions with local merchants to larger efforts – such as paying annual taxes – blockchain will serve as the foundation for the city’s financial exchanges.
