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The city where you can pay for almost everything with Bitcoin, from energy bills to restaurant food

2025-12-12 12:48:47Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

The city where you can pay for almost everything with Bitcoin, from energy bills

In the picturesque city of Lugano, in southern Switzerland, the use of Bitcoin is becoming an everyday practice. At a McDonald's by the lake, a customer asks if he can pay with Bitcoin and the waiter hands him a special terminal for cryptocurrency payments. Such devices have been distributed free of charge by the municipality to hundreds of businesses, making the cryptocurrency a real alternative to the Swiss franc.

Currently, around 350 shops, bars and restaurants in Lugano accept Bitcoin. Even utilities, including childcare fees, can be paid for using the cryptocurrency. Some users say that paying with Bitcoin gives them a sense of “liberation from the traditional financial system”, while others see it as simply a cheaper alternative, as transaction fees are usually lower than those of bank cards.

The “Plan B” initiative, launched by the municipality and the company Tether in 2022, aims to transform Lugano into the main European Bitcoin hub. The project director, Mir Liponi, says that for 11 days she lived only on Bitcoin, proving that in the city you can cover most basic needs without using traditional money, although payments for public transport, fuel and energy bills remain impossible.

However, not everyone is convinced. Some residents express skepticism about cryptocurrencies, associating them with speculation and financial risks. Experts warn that the volatility of Bitcoin's value could be detrimental to traders, who are advised to immediately convert it to traditional currencies.

Despite the controversy, Mayor Michele Foletti sees Bitcoin as an opportunity for innovation and economic development. According to him, around 110 companies in the crypto-technology sector have already set up shop in Lugano, making the city a major hub for the cryptocurrency industry in Europe.


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