Tether and municipal leaders in Lugano have officially launched Plan ₿ Phase II, marking the next chapter in their public-private partnership aimed at embedding cryptocurrency into local infrastructure and commerce. The announcement was made on March 3, 2026, following what officials described as a successful four-year pilot program.
The initial phase enabled residents and businesses to use BTC, USDT, and LVGA for everyday payments, taxes, and public services. City authorities reported steady adoption across retail and municipal channels, positioning Lugano as one of Europe’s most visible experiments in real-world crypto integration.
$6.4 Million Commitment Through 2030
Under Phase II, the partners will allocate up to $6.4 million (CHF 5 million) through 2030 to expand infrastructure, strengthen applied research, and develop specialized technical training programs. The initiative will also prioritize the advancement of sovereign digital identity systems designed to enhance security, privacy, and interoperability within digital public services.
A central pillar of the strategy is the continued expansion of PoW.space, Lugano’s innovation hub, which has already attracted more than 100 fintech companies to the region. Officials say the goal is to reinforce the city’s position as a European center for blockchain entrepreneurship while supporting local talent development.
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, said Phase II shifts the focus toward long-term resilience and capacity building. According to Ardoino, the new stage is designed to deepen infrastructure foundations while ensuring that technological growth translates into sustainable local economic development.
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