In a McDonald's by a lake surrounded by mountains, in the centre of the Swiss city of Lugano, a customer orders coffee.
Can I pay with bitcoin? he asks, and the person behind the counter holds out what looks like a credit card payment terminal.
It is in fact a machine for paying by crypto currency. The equipment has been distributed free to local retail businesses by the city council.
In Lugano, located in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, the phenomenon of bitcoin as a daily payment method is gaining traction.
While still primarily an investment for many, Lugano boasts over 350 shops and restaurants accepting bitcoin, alongside local authorities now facilitating resident payments for services like pre-school childcare in cryptocurrency.
A local bitcoin advocate, Nicolas, emphasizes the freedom cryptocurrency brings away from traditional banking systems.
Even luxury shops are on board, with owners appreciating the lower transaction fees associated with bitcoin compared to credit cards.
Cherubino Fry, a shopkeeper, notes that while bitcoin transactions are currently sporadic, he sees potential for growth over the next decade.
Plan B, a city initiative aimed at promoting bitcoin, hopes to solidify Lugano's position as a European cryptocurrency hub. Among its projects, residents are educated on crypto and even complete daily transactions in bitcoin.
However, the effort faces challenges similar to those in other nations, where cryptocurrency adoption has stalled.
Despite these hurdles, Lugano aims to build a circular economy based on cryptocurrency, with some residents successfully navigating life using only bitcoin.
Nonetheless, skepticism remains among locals; a recent local incident—vandals destroying a statue of Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto—highlights the division of opinion regarding cryptocurrency.
Concerns regarding bitcoin's volatility and its association with illicit activities simmer in the background. However, local authorities maintain that the positives of fostering innovation outweigh the perceived risks.
As the world watches, Lugano's experiment with bitcoin could set a precedent.
