Toulouse Leads Europe in Crypto-Powered Public Transport
Toulouse, France, has made history by becoming the first European city to accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for public transport fares. Starting March 17, residents can now pay for metro, tram, cable car, and bus tickets using their digital assets.
This groundbreaking initiative, spearheaded by Tisséo, the city’s public transport operator, allows users to purchase tickets via an Android app. The app supports Bitcoin and over 70 altcoins, converting them instantly to euros. Binance Pay is one of the accepted payment methods. The move is part of France’s broader push towards crypto-pleasant services. Cannes is also exploring similar options.
Lyzi, a Paris-based fintech company, developed the payment infrastructure. The system is experimental, aiming to gauge long-term crypto adoption. Deputy Mayor Sacha Briand sees this as a step towards integrating crypto into daily life. The tickets are bought through a mobile app, making it convenient for crypto enthusiasts. The city hopes this will boost crypto usage.
Lyzi,the company behind the project,assists various businesses in accepting crypto payments. They’ve already enabled crypto payments for fashion stores like Printemps. However, some Bitcoin purists are unhappy about the involvement of intermediaries like Binance Pay. They argue that it goes against the decentralized ethos of crypto
