The Bitcoin payment system has been fully implemented in Lugano, Switzerland, allowing residents to pay taxes with cryptocurrency

The "Plan ₿" project in Lugano, Switzerland has made significant progress, 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 decentralized financial infrastructure. Currently, over 350 merchants in Lugano accept cryptocurrency payments, with transaction fees processed through the Bitcoin Lightning Network typically below 1%, far lower than the approximately 3% rate of traditional credit cards. To promote adoption, the city government provides merchants with smart POS terminal devices free of charge.

Lugano has also established 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 to pay for municipal services, public parking, and childcare fees.

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