Swiss City Lugano Adopts Polygon as Payment Network

Key takeaways:

• The city of Lugano has chosen Polygon as its infrastructure partner to support its blockchain initiatives, including its payment app MyLugano and its digital currency LVGA
• The MyLugano app will be upgraded to include a digital wallet for self-custody of crypto assets across multiple blockchains and direct access to decentralized apps on Polygon
• An NFT art collection based on a public mural by Yuri Catania will be launched on Polygon to celebrate the app upgrade and support local social and environmental projects
• The city of Lugano has also plans to accept Bitcoin and Tether as a form of payment for some public services, such as taxes and fees, as part of its Plan B to become a blockchain hub in Europe

The city of Lugano, Switzerland, is on a mission to become one of the most crypto-friendly cities in Europe.

This week, the city government announced a strategic partnership with Polygon, a leading proof-of-stake blockchain network that powers thousands of decentralized apps. Polygon will provide the technical infrastructure and solutions for Lugano’s blockchain initiatives, such as its payment app MyLugano and its digital currency LVGA.

Payments on Polygon PoS are achieving new heights. It’s no longer private companies like Grab with a massive user base tapping Polygon PoS for payments, governments are relying on it too.

Via the @LuganoPlanB program, the payment app MyLugano, promoted by the Lugano… pic.twitter.com/6QNBxLG6gK

— Polygon (Labs) (@0xPolygonLabs) November 22, 2023

MyLugano, a finalist in the 2021 IEEE Smart City Award, is an innovative app that allows over 30,000 users to earn and spend LVGA points, a digital currency that rewards citizens for their sustainable behaviors and can be used to access local services and discounts.

According to the announcement, the app will be upgraded to integrate Polygon’s network, giving users a digital wallet for self-custody of crypto assets across multiple blockchains and direct access to decentralized apps on Polygon. Several tokens are already integrated, with more to be added later.

To celebrate the app upgrade, the city of Lugano will also launch an NFT art collection based on a public art piece by Swiss artist Yuri Catania.

The piece, “LVGA/XY Flowers,” is a 40-meter mural installed on the wall of the Palazzo dei Congressi involving hundreds of paper flowers. It is designed to gradually transform into real flowers and will be planted in a new green space. The art will be immortalized on the Polygon platform as NFTs and will be gifted to those who participated in its creation. The NFTs will also be sold to the public, with the proceeds going to support local social and environmental projects.

These developments are part of Lugano’s Plan B, a comprehensive strategy to become a blockchain hub in Europe. The plan also includes creating a specialized zone for blockchain companies and startups, setting up a 100 million Swiss francs fund to finance blockchain projects, and allocating 3 million Swiss francs to promote crypto adoption among local businesses.

Moreover, the city of Lugano intends to accept Bitcoin and Tether as a form of payment for some public services, such as taxes and fees, making it one of the first cities in the world to do so.

By integrating blockchain technology into its financial infrastructure, Lugano is not just setting a precedent; it is showcasing how cities can adopt digital currencies and blockchain technology to enrich the daily lives of their residents. This partnership with Polygon reaffirms the city’s dedication to innovation in the rapidly evolving Web3 and digital finance realm.