"The cobblestone streets of Lugano, Switzerland are better known for their Mediterranean-style piazzas and high-end boutiques than for radical economic shifts. But look closer at storefronts along Via Nassa, and the familiar "Visa" and "Mastercard" stickers have a new neighbor: a bright yellow "Plan ₿" decal. In this lakeside enclave, Bitcoin is no longer just a digital asset tucked away in a cold wallet. It is a functional currency used to buy everything from a morning espresso to a Big Mac."
"Launched in 2022 as a partnership between the City of Lugano and Tether, Plan ₿ was not designed as a marketing stunt. It was conceived as a structural overhaul of the city's financial rails. While countries such as El Salvador have pursued top-down Bitcoin mandates, Lugano's approach is quintessentially Swiss: voluntary, highly organized and focused on reducing merchant friction. The ecosystem rests on three pillars: Bitcoin ( BTC) for sovereign value."
"Merchants participate because Bitcoin Lightning fees are typically under 1%, compared with the roughly 3% average charged by credit card networks. Residents can pay municipal bills, including taxes, parking fines and tuition, in BTC or USDT using standard QR-code invoices. The city does not hold volatile crypto assets. Payments are converted instantly into Swiss francs (CHF) through Bitcoin Suisse, limiting the city's exposure to crypto price volatility."
Lugano implemented Plan ₿ in 2022 with Tether to create a voluntary municipal crypto ecosystem combining Bitcoin for sovereign value, USDT for transactional stability and LVGA for local loyalty. Merchants adopt Lightning payments primarily for lower fees—typically under 1% versus roughly 3% for credit cards—enabling everyday purchases and tax or fee payments via QR-code invoices. The city avoids crypto price exposure by converting incoming crypto receipts instantly into Swiss francs through Bitcoin Suisse. The approach emphasizes voluntary participation, reduced merchant friction and a balance of value, stability and local incentives across the payment stack.
Read at Cointelegraph
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