🇨🇭 The truth about Lugano, “Bitcoin City”: it accepts BTC, but keeps Swiss francs in its treasury
Today (October 23), the fifth Plan B Forum opened in Lugano, Switzerland. A news roundup on X says there are more than 100 speakers and a two-day agenda.
At the forum, Lugano’s mayor shared the progress made over the past four years: according to the news roundup, more than 150 blockchain companies have set up locally since 2022, and hundreds of businesses accept Bitcoin payments. One user even posted a photo saying you can pay via the Lightning Network at the local McDonald’s counter.
But there’s one detail many people missed. X user SHATOSHI_BTC explained how the city actually works:
🔹 Municipal bills can be paid in BTC or via the Lightning Network, including taxes and fines, with no limit
🔹 The post says more than 400 shops accept Bitcoin
🔹 But the city government doesn’t hold on to those sats. Bitcoin Suisse converts each payment into Swiss francs and charges a 1% fee
In short: Bitcoin at the counter, francs in the treasury.
My take: this is actually a more practical path to “adoption.” Cities need to pay salaries, repair roads, and set budgets, so it’s hard for them to bear major asset-price volatility. That’s why they choose to “open up payments, but keep the asset off their books.” Here’s a reminder for everyday users: when you see news about a city “embracing Bitcoin,” first distinguish between “you can pay with BTC” and “the government is accumulating BTC.” These two things have completely different implications for the price. The former helps build user habits; the latter represents real buying demand.
Of course, the 1% conversion fee also shows one thing: using Bitcoin as everyday money still involves an intermediary service provider.
Do you think a city should “accept Bitcoin” or “hold Bitcoin”?
#比特币 #BTC #闪电网络 #PlanBForum
Today (October 23), the fifth Plan B Forum opened in Lugano, Switzerland. A news roundup on X says there are more than 100 speakers and a two-day agenda.
At the forum, Lugano’s mayor shared the progress made over the past four years: according to the news roundup, more than 150 blockchain companies have set up locally since 2022, and hundreds of businesses accept Bitcoin payments. One user even posted a photo saying you can pay via the Lightning Network at the local McDonald’s counter.
But there’s one detail many people missed. X user SHATOSHI_BTC explained how the city actually works:
🔹 Municipal bills can be paid in BTC or via the Lightning Network, including taxes and fines, with no limit
🔹 The post says more than 400 shops accept Bitcoin
🔹 But the city government doesn’t hold on to those sats. Bitcoin Suisse converts each payment into Swiss francs and charges a 1% fee
In short: Bitcoin at the counter, francs in the treasury.
My take: this is actually a more practical path to “adoption.” Cities need to pay salaries, repair roads, and set budgets, so it’s hard for them to bear major asset-price volatility. That’s why they choose to “open up payments, but keep the asset off their books.” Here’s a reminder for everyday users: when you see news about a city “embracing Bitcoin,” first distinguish between “you can pay with BTC” and “the government is accumulating BTC.” These two things have completely different implications for the price. The former helps build user habits; the latter represents real buying demand.
Of course, the 1% conversion fee also shows one thing: using Bitcoin as everyday money still involves an intermediary service provider.
Do you think a city should “accept Bitcoin” or “hold Bitcoin”?
#比特币 #BTC #闪电网络 #PlanBForum