Toulouse Goes Crypto: Ride the Tram with Bitcoin! 🚋💰

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In the sun-drenched streets of Toulouse, France, where the air is thick with the scent of croissants and the laughter of children, a curious thing has begun to unfold. The good folks of this charming city can now pay for their metro, tram, cable car, and bus tickets with Bitcoin and a smattering of other cryptocurrencies. Yes, you heard that right! 🚀

As of March 17, Toulouse has taken a bold leap into the future, becoming the first European city to allow its citizens to spend their digital coins on public transport. Who knew that the future of travel would come wrapped in a blockchain?

🚋 European Premiere: Crypto for Tram Fares!

With @Lyzi_app and @tisseo_officiel, you can now get around Toulouse using your crypto holdings; marking them as the first European public transport system to test this! ⚡️

Metro, tram, bus, cable car, and park & ride – they’re all…

— Lyzi 🇫🇷 (@Lyzi_app) March 20, 2025

This audacious move comes as France, in its infinite wisdom, seeks to sprinkle a little crypto magic across its services. Rumor has it that Cannes is also cooking up a payment system to let residents pay with their digital treasures. Perhaps they’ll even accept seashells next! 🐚

Tisséo, the brave operator of Toulouse’s public transport, has taken the first step into this brave new world. Tickets can now be purchased through an Android app, where Bitcoin and a whopping 70 altcoins can be exchanged for a ride. And just like that, your crypto is magically transformed into euros. It’s like a digital fairy tale! 🧚‍♂️

According to Sacha Briand, the deputy mayor of Toulouse, this initiative is a grand experiment. They want to see just how far this crypto craze can go. The press release, dripping with optimism, hints at a future where cryptocurrency integration is as common as baguettes in a French bakery. 🥖

Now, let’s not forget our friends at Lyzi, the Paris-based wizards who conjured up the payment infrastructure for Tisséo. This white-label fintech company is on a mission to help everyone from pharmacies to fancy restaurants accept crypto payments. They’re like the fairy godmothers of the digital currency world! ✨

They accept binancepay. They don’t accept Bitcoin

— Oliver Koblížek 🍩 (@Stromens) March 24, 2025

But not everyone is dancing in the streets. Some Bitcoin purists are wringing their hands over the involvement of Binance, claiming that intermediaries are the devil’s work. Oh, the drama! Advocates, however, argue that Binance’s presence is crucial for speedy transactions. Because who wants to wait for their tram, right? ⏳

Yet, lurking in the shadows is a more serious hurdle: the need to declare crypto transactions on tax form 3916-bis. Yes, folks, that’s right! A 30% capital gains tax looms over this digital utopia. Will the regulators step in to make things easier? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, the stats on how many brave souls are using this new payment method remain as elusive as a cat in a rainstorm. 🐱🌧️

Crypto in France

France, ever the trendsetter, embraced general crypto regulations back in 2020, making cryptocurrency storage and transactions as legal as a glass of Bordeaux. The press release from Toulouse proudly proclaims that crypto is gaining traction among the French populace. A report from Gemini suggests that around 18% of French citizens are now crypto holders. Tisséo’s leap into crypto payments is a calculated gamble on the future growth of this digital currency craze.

While this initiative may spark interest in crypto ownership, it could also lay the groundwork for a robust infrastructure where people can use their digital coins for everyday purchases. Just imagine a world where your morning coffee is paid for with Bitcoin! ☕️💸

Bitcoin cities

  • United Arab Emirates: Dubai, the glittering jewel of the desert, is one of the first so-called “Bitcoin cities.” While Bitcoin isn’t officially legal tender, you can still spend it in hotels, malls, and restaurants. Fancy a car rental or a flight? You can do that with Bitcoin too! Just don’t forget to tip your waiter in crypto! 🏙️
  • Switzerland: Zug, affectionately known as “Crypto Valley,” has been allowing residents to pay their taxes in Bitcoin since 2016. Talk about a tax break! Switzerland is a well-known cryptocurrency hub, hosting conferences and all sorts of crypto shenanigans. 🧙‍♂️
  • China: In Hong Kong, you can pay for dinner with Bitcoin. Immigrants can even use digital assets as proof of wealth. Who knew a plate of dumplings could come with a side of blockchain? 🥟

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2025-03-30 21:09