Bitcoin payment system fully implemented in Lugano, Switzerland; residents can pay taxes with cryptocurrency

According to TechFlow, on December 26, Cointelegraph reported that the "Plan ₿" project in Lugano, Switzerland, has made significant progress. Residents of the city can now use bitcoin (BTC) or tether (USDT) to pay various municipal bills, including taxes, parking fines, and tuition fees. The project was launched in 2022 through a collaboration between the city of Lugano and Tether, aiming to establish decentralized financial infrastructure.

Currently, more than 350 merchants in Lugano accept cryptocurrency payments. Merchants process transactions via the bitcoin Lightning Network, with fees typically below 1%, much lower than the approximately 3% charged by traditional credit cards. To promote adoption, the city government provides merchants with free smart POS terminal devices.

Lugano has also established a circular economy system through the MyLugano app. Users can receive up to 10% cashback in LVGA tokens when spending cryptocurrencies at participating stores. These tokens can be used to pay for municipal services, public parking, childcare fees, and more.

The project has attracted more than 110 crypto-related startups to the region. The fourth Plan ₿ Forum, to be held in October 2025, has attracted 4,000 participants from 64 countries, representing a 140% increase since the project's launch.