Lugano's Plan ₿ Project Advances with Cryptocurrency Payments

According to ChainCatcher, the city of Lugano in Switzerland has made significant progress with its 'Plan ₿' initiative, allowing residents to pay various municipal bills, including taxes, parking fines, and tuition fees, using Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT). Launched in 2022 in collaboration with Tether, the project aims to establish a decentralized financial infrastructure. Currently, over 350 merchants in Lugano accept cryptocurrency payments, with transaction fees via the Bitcoin Lightning Network typically below 1%, significantly lower than the approximately 3% charged by traditional credit cards. To encourage adoption, the city government provides merchants with free smart POS terminal devices. Lugano has also developed a circular economy system through the MyLugano app, where users can earn up to 10% cashback in LVGA tokens when spending cryptocurrency at participating stores. These tokens can be used for municipal services, public parking, and childcare fees. The initiative has attracted over 110 crypto-related startups to the region. The fourth Plan ₿ Forum, scheduled for October 2025, is expected to draw 4,000 participants from 64 countries, marking a 140% increase since the project's inception.