Lugano: European Capital of blockchain technology

Great show yesterday at the Palazzo dei Congressi, where more than a thousand participants attended an event destined to definitively establish cryptocurrencies in the world of financial transactions. In fact, the memorandum of understanding signed between Lugano and Tether Operations Limited will promote the adoption of blockchain technology at the municipal level and allow citizens to pay taxes, various city services and make payments in Bitcoin, as well as Tether or other Swiss franc-based stablecoins. The two partners will work towards the shared goal of increasing the city's blockchain capabilities and promoting Lugano as a new hub for blockchain adoption across Europe.

To watch the streaming of the event, please click here.

Lugano is currently home to several initiatives dedicated to innovation, such as the Lugano Living Lab, which implements projects in the field of innovation and digital technology through experimentation and prototyping on an urban scale. Therefore, the specific ecosystem of Lugano allows Tether to go beyond most of the current blockchain implementations by working together with the Municipality to implement the first practical cases on our territory. 

This marks the launch of a strategic collaboration based on several initiatives, one of which is the creation by Tether, together with a group of companies active in the cryptocurrency sector, of a fund (starting from a base of CHF 3 million) that will help to support start-ups active in the blockchain sector, facilitating their establishment and day-to-day operations, as well as acting in a catalytic role for all aspects of this technology.

A clear vocation to turn Lugano into a home for the crypto community.

Furthermore, Tether will contribute its experience and knowledge in the field of education and training of new generations in blockchain technology, through collaborations with local universities and research institutes, and by providing 500 scholarships in the field.
"Lugano is investing in its future," said Michele Foletti, Mayor of Lugano. "In recent years, we have successfully implemented blockchain-based solutions, among them the MyLugano app and its LVGA Points payment token (the Lugano Digital Currency) and the 3Achain city blockchain infrastructure. Our City strong believes in this technology and its potential for scalability.

Upcoming events

The City also announced a brand new conference for October this year, the Bitcoin World Forum. The event will promote debate on the topic of freedom of communication and finance and will explore topics such as financial disintermediation, accessibility of financial services, as well as people without access to banking services and regulation issues.