Lugano accepts bitcoin everywhere — but does anyone actually use it?

[ChrisPop]

Lugano, Switzerland has quietly turned into one of the few places where you can pay with bitcoin for everyday stuff — coffee, restaurants, shops, even some municipal services like childcare. The city handed out BTC payment terminals to merchants, but everything can still be paid in Swiss francs. Bitcoin is optional, not forced.

In reality, usage seems limited. Shop owners say only a few customers actually pay in BTC, even though fees are lower than credit cards. The city and its “Plan B” initiative talk about building a circular bitcoin economy over time, but for now it feels more like an experiment than a shift in behavior.

Unlike El Salvador, there’s no legal tender law and no incentives pushing people to use it. That avoids backlash, but it also means adoption is slow and mostly ideological. Critics point to volatility, custody risks, and reputational concerns. Supporters say this is the only realistic way bitcoin could ever work as money.

I've read the article here if you want to have a small lecture: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0r959n91p4o

My opinion is that Bitcoin is still mostly viewed as a means for preserving and growing capital rather than a payment method. But it's good to see increasing adoption. What do you think?

[348Judah]

Lugano, Switzerland has quietly turned into one of the few places where you can pay with bitcoin for everyday stuff — coffee, restaurants, shops, even some municipal services like childcare. The city handed out BTC payment terminals to merchants, but everything can still be paid in Swiss francs. Bitcoin is optional, not forced.

The same thing was talked about El-Salvador when it newly adopted bitcoin as a legal tender, people were saying that bitcoin is not being used by the citizens, but what we have forgotten is that we can't expect for a quick return with new implementation, everything works by time and take the normal process before the people could get used to it, it may take a little while for the uses to be harmonized fully with the people.

[Taskford]

Lugano, Switzerland has quietly turned into one of the few places where you can pay with bitcoin for everyday stuff — coffee, restaurants, shops, even some municipal services like childcare. The city handed out BTC payment terminals to merchants, but everything can still be paid in Swiss francs. Bitcoin is optional, not forced.

The same thing was talked about El-Salvador when it newly adopted bitcoin as a legal tender, people were saying that bitcoin is not being used by the citizens, but what we have forgotten is that we can't expect for a quick return with new implementation, everything works by time and take the normal process before the people could get used to it, it may take a little while for the uses to be harmonized fully with the people.

Yeah expect same thing happening out there since we cannot really expect that once they announce that they accept Bitcoin and their citizens can use it anywhere many people would immediately adapt.

Since as we can see on case of El Salvador even if their government is so supportive on Bitcoin they still fail on their actions to make Bitcoin as their legal tender.

So better for Lugano to learn from the experiences of El Salvador. But for sure they know all of it and tried to improve everything, so let's see if they succeed and they could able to make Bitcoin a useful currency in that place.

[Sticky Bomb]

Lugano, Switzerland has quietly turned into one of the few places where you can pay with bitcoin for everyday stuff — coffee, restaurants, shops, even some municipal services like childcare. The city handed out BTC payment terminals to merchants, but everything can still be paid in Swiss francs. Bitcoin is optional, not forced.

Bitcoin functions as an alternative to Fiat and not it's replacement. There's no way you'll expect Bitcoin to be forced, it's more like providing people with more options for payment and not in any way to invalidate the use of Fiat at those establishments.

The flexibility in payments have more importance there like attracting crypto friendly tourists there and fostering more Bitcoin adoption.

In reality, usage seems limited. Shop owners say only a few customers actually pay in BTC, even though fees are lower than credit cards. The city and its “Plan B” initiative talk about building a circular bitcoin economy over time, but for now it feels more like an experiment than a shift in behavior.
My opinion is that Bitcoin is still mostly viewed as a means for preserving and growing capital rather than a payment method. But it's good to see increasing adoption. What do you think?

People majorly use Bitcoin to preserve the value of their funds no doubt, more usage for payments would gain more popularity with time, in the future as more institutions adapt it, there may be a slight shift in mindset and more people would be inclined to use it for transactions and payments.

[Antona]

Lugano, Switzerland has quietly turned into one of the few places where you can pay with bitcoin for everyday stuff — coffee, restaurants, shops, even some municipal services like childcare. The city handed out BTC payment terminals to merchants, but everything can still be paid in Swiss francs. Bitcoin is optional, not forced.

In reality, usage seems limited. Shop owners say only a few customers actually pay in BTC, even though fees are lower than credit cards. The city and its “Plan B” initiative talk about building a circular bitcoin economy over time, but for now it feels more like an experiment than a shift in behavior.

Unlike El Salvador, there’s no legal tender law and no incentives pushing people to use it. That avoids backlash, but it also means adoption is slow and mostly ideological. Critics point to volatility, custody risks, and reputational concerns. Supporters say this is the only realistic way bitcoin could ever work as money.

I've read the article here if you want to have a small lecture: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0r959n91p4o

My opinion is that Bitcoin is still mostly viewed as a means for preserving and growing capital rather than a payment method. But it's good to see increasing adoption. What do you think?

Makes sense, low fees for merchants is a good incentive to keep the option open, for users the incentive isn't really there yet idk, volatility and capital gains stuff kills it for daily spending its a cool signature campaign for the city more than a currency shift right now

[qurbanshah02]

Lugano, Switzerland has quietly turned into one of the few places where you can pay with bitcoin for everyday stuff — coffee, restaurants, shops, even some municipal services like childcare. The city handed out BTC payment terminals to merchants, but everything can still be paid in Swiss francs. Bitcoin is optional, not forced.

In reality, usage seems limited. Shop owners say only a few customers actually pay in BTC, even though fees are lower than credit cards. The city and its “Plan B” initiative talk about building a circular bitcoin economy over time, but for now it feels more like an experiment than a shift in behavior.

This is good for them because now they can easily pay for everything there with Bitcoin. Although they have focused a lot on Bitcoin and crypto for a few months and they can also pay their taxes there with Bitcoin. Such a modern country that is making it easy for its people and with Bitcoin there will be no burden on them, but it will be easy for them that they will easily invest in Bitcoin and do their business. Now slowly we will see more changes and yes I am also saying this Bitcoin will not be a burden for anyone for the people there. I have seen a lot of advertising of Bitcoin in their country and there has also been talk about them accepting Bitcoin money. Although they are still working on it and will make it very easy so that it works like money in general.

Yes, a statue of Satoshi was built and the Bitcoin logo was built on every balloon there and the Bitcoin logo was also built on the train there, so this is a very big standard thing for them, which is a convenience for the people there.

[danherbias07]

I agree with that last part that you said. It's not yet there. We are not yet there in regard to Bitcoin being truly a currency used for everyday expenses. I guess the question is "Will it really happen?" I am optimistic that it will and not just a preserving investment anymore.

I have not heard of Lugano accepting Bitcoin like it's a normal currency, but thanks for sharing this. I think what we really need is more shops that accept Bitcoin, and I really hope it will happen very soon. I have seen influencers who use Bitcoin as their medium to get more views, but it actually didn't work. They find shops who accepts it and try to use it by spending Bitcoin to show people that it can be done, but honestly, it doesn't gain much audience.
That just tells it. They'd rather keep Bitcoin for future expectations than use it now.

[suzanne5223]

My opinion is that Bitcoin is still mostly viewed as a means for preserving and growing capital rather than a payment method. But it's good to see increasing adoption. What do you think?

This is a normal thing we should expect based on the population of people worldwide that currently adopt Bitcoin, and I said it days ago in a topic that has to do with Klarna accepting Bitcoin as payment, that the challenge now not business accepting as payment but the number of people that will use it so business owner need to consider customers request before accepting BTC as payment unless the purpose was to use it as a means of accumulating Bitcoin without buying it just like Tesla once did.

[Alphakilo]

My opinion is that Bitcoin is still mostly viewed as a means for preserving and growing capital rather than a payment method. But it's good to see increasing adoption. What do you think?

This is a normal thing we should expect based on the population of people worldwide that currently adopt Bitcoin, and I said it days ago in a topic that has to do with Klarna accepting Bitcoin as payment, that the challenge now not business accepting as payment but the number of people that will use it so business owner need to consider customers request before accepting BTC as payment unless the purpose was to use it as a means of accumulating Bitcoin without buying it just like Tesla once did.

I do think that Lugano just started using Bitcoin because it has been used for some years and coming and I know for certain that Lugano would be said to operate a dual economy which of course functions as a fully actualized parallel system both for those who are tourists and those who understand technology and it's application very well.
Still, I would like to think it is more of a backup for the swiz franc used occasionally by citizens to purchase daily everyday items.

[MArsland]

Using Bitcoin to purchase daily necessities isn't my preferred method. While that's the way it should be, I don't feel like simply exchanging it for food and drinks. The lack of customers demonstrates that Bitcoin is now viewed more as an asset worth holding than as something to spend.

[SFR10]

My opinion is that Bitcoin is still mostly viewed as a means for preserving and growing capital rather than a payment method. But it's good to see increasing adoption. What do you think?

You're spot on, and to an extent, I blame it on all those known institutions and certain brands that keep buying & hodling bitcoin ^{[a lot of people tend to follow their moves]}.
^{- The increased adoption is great, but I would've preferred to see it being used more often for daily expenses, as opposed to being a store of value and etc... Perhaps that'll change when the last fractions of it are mined around the year 2140.}

[Zlantann]

Using Bitcoin to purchase daily necessities isn't my preferred method. While that's the way it should be, I don't feel like simply exchanging it for food and drinks. The lack of customers demonstrates that Bitcoin is now viewed more as an asset worth holding than as something to spend.

Bitcoin volatility is the main excuse business owners and buyers give for now using it for often. I find this predictions by a shop owner in Lugano very meaningful:

But using bitcoin will be like a tree growing, and this tree will grow very big in five, 10 years."

Bitcoin adoption will keep gaining momentum as the currency becomes more stable. For now, using Bitcoin as an asset or hedge against inflation is more popular.

[betswift]

Using Bitcoin to purchase daily necessities isn't my preferred method. While that's the way it should be, I don't feel like simply exchanging it for food and drinks. The lack of customers demonstrates that Bitcoin is now viewed more as an asset worth holding than as something to spend.

If this view won't change, it will be the same way in the years to come, but we start from bigger things - services, air flights, and so on.

One day, people would be okay to spend their BTCs like for food or drinks too, imo, that day just didn't come in full scale.

[suzanne5223]

My opinion is that Bitcoin is still mostly viewed as a means for preserving and growing capital rather than a payment method. But it's good to see increasing adoption. What do you think?

This is a normal thing we should expect based on the population of people worldwide that currently adopt Bitcoin, and I said it days ago in a topic that has to do with Klarna accepting Bitcoin as payment, that the challenge now not business accepting as payment but the number of people that will use it so business owner need to consider customers request before accepting BTC as payment unless the purpose was to use it as a means of accumulating Bitcoin without buying it just like Tesla once did.

I do think that Lugano just started using Bitcoin because it has been used for some years and coming and I know for certain that Lugano would be said to operate a dual economy which of course functions as a fully actualized parallel system both for those who are tourists and those who understand technology and it's application very well.
Still, I would like to think it is more of a backup for the swiz franc used occasionally by citizens to purchase daily everyday items.

I never said Lugano is just starting to use Bitcoin as a payment method, and it is easy for anyone to understand this based on Switzerland's stance toward Bitcoin.
I was discussing Klarna, which has just started accepting Bitcoin as a payment method, and the result I predicted could happen, which is what is currently happening in Lugano.
The OP was talking about the number of people using Bitcoin as payment, and I was talking about business owner that accept BTC as payment should see it as a way to accumulate BTC and never expect alot of customers to use it as payment as the moment.

[macson]

What can we expect? Do we expect people to rush to use bitcoin knowing that it is still used by very few people today? Yes, it’s great that region accepted bitcoin as payment in businesses, but expecting people to use it more as a form of payment still seems unrealistic.

Everything takes time, nothing is instant, because adoption will continue to grow, and as time goes on, people will begin to realize and adjust to the fact that they can use bitcoin for payments in that area- and as adoption increases, the number of people using bitcoin for their payments will also increase for sure.

[Maus0728]

That is the only end for this kind of initiative to be honest because bitcoin as already mentioned is better as an investment that you hold for profit, now if they cannot do anything about that or find a workaround it so there are incentives for people to use bitcoin as a means of currency at least in my opinion, that is how I will tackle the issue of less bitcoin usage as a currency for daily trading.

[ColdLava40]

My opinion is that Bitcoin is still mostly viewed as a means for preserving and growing capital rather than a payment method. But it's good to see increasing adoption. What do you think?

That's how it should be, every great step towards bitcoin at first would seem to be slow and not worth the efforts but over time it gains the right amount of audience it seeks.. only this act would bring awareness to people all over the country and that's a good thing.

Not everyone would use BTC, not everyone would like or adopt it. The idea behind the technology is to serve as an optional payment system.

It can't immediately or totally replace the fiat system that has been established from the beginning. But it would help improve how people carry out their daily transactions..

[Cryptmuster]

Lugano, Switzerland has quietly turned into one of the few places where you can pay with bitcoin for everyday stuff — coffee, restaurants, shops, even some municipal services like childcare. The city handed out BTC payment terminals to merchants, but everything can still be paid in Swiss francs. Bitcoin is optional, not forced.

In reality, usage seems limited. Shop owners say only a few customers actually pay in BTC, even though fees are lower than credit cards. The city and its “Plan B” initiative talk about building a circular bitcoin economy over time, but for now it feels more like an experiment than a shift in behavior.

Unlike El Salvador, there’s no legal tender law and no incentives pushing people to use it. That avoids backlash, but it also means adoption is slow and mostly ideological. Critics point to volatility, custody risks, and reputational concerns. Supporters say this is the only realistic way bitcoin could ever work as money.

I've read the article here if you want to have a small lecture: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0r959n91p4o

My opinion is that Bitcoin is still mostly viewed as a means for preserving and growing capital rather than a payment method. But it's good to see increasing adoption. What do you think?

I agree that Bitcoin is perceived as an investment asset rather than a means of payment, but it is good that in Lugano there is a choice, and if you want, you can pay with Bitcoin. I often read that people prefer to pay with stablecoins, and I think this feels more familiar to them. As for me, it would make sense to pay with Bitcoin in a rising (bull) market, but in a falling market it is harder for me, because I know that the price will rise later and I do not want to spend more right now.

[Don Pedro Dinero]

My opinion is that Bitcoin is still mostly viewed as a means for preserving and growing capital rather than a payment method. But it's good to see increasing adoption. What do you think?

Same as you. If I lived in Lugano, I would probably make some payments in bitcoin, but I would prefer to save most of my bitcoin and make everyday payments in fiat currency. The opposite makes no sense. Nowadays, there are many options and it is very easy to pay in fiat currency, but we cannot say the same for Bitcoin. For example, I don't use LN. If I wanted to pay for a coffee with Bitcoin, I would have to resort to it because paying for a coffee via blockchain is impractical, and for LN I would have to either open channels or resort to a centralized solution.

[nemesis_incarnate]

That is the only end for this kind of initiative to be honest because bitcoin as already mentioned is better as an investment that you hold for profit, now if they cannot do anything about that or find a workaround it so there are incentives for people to use bitcoin as a means of currency at least in my opinion, that is how I will tackle the issue of less bitcoin usage as a currency for daily trading.

I agree. Because businesses would get much more with BTC that with fiat.. even if it would be regulated, BTC is so much more better to have in the long run.