what's Lugano's Plan ₿?

Lugano's Plan ₿ is a pioneering initiative launched by the City of Lugano in partnership with Tether to establish the city as Europe's premier crypto hub. It enables widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies in daily life, accepting Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDT) as legal tender for municipal taxes, bills, merchant payments, and services. The program introduced LVGA, a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the Swiss Franc (CHF), which offers users 10% cashback rewards through the MyLugano app when spending at participating businesses. Complementing practical adoption, Plan ₿ fosters education and innovation via programs like Plan ₿ Network for developers and businesses, alongside annual forums featuring global leaders discussing Bitcoin nation-state adoption, financial sovereignty, and blockchain applications. This ecosystem transforms Lugano into a living lab for decentralized finance, mining Bitcoin with excess clean energy, and building crypto-native infrastructure.