The Swiss city of Lugano is moving ahead with ambitious plans to weave digital assets and decentralized technologies into the fabric of its urban infrastructure. Tether, a major stablecoin issuer, has teamed up with the Lugano Municipality to announce the start of Plan ₿ Phase II, a roadmap covering 2026 to 2030. Building on foundations laid since 2022, this new phase emphasizes digital sovereignty, technological resilience, and robust long-term infrastructure development.
Lugano’s Vibrant Digital Asset Ecosystem
Over the past four years, Lugano has emerged as a European pioneer in real-world applications of digital assets. Across the city, more than 400 businesses now accept payments in both Bitcoin and Tether’s widely used USDT stablecoin, as well as the city’s own LVGA token. The municipality has also conducted pilots for digital bond issuances and blockchain-based payment systems in delivering public financial services. Throughout this journey, Tether has provided crucial technical support and strategic infrastructure, playing a central role in Lugano’s digital transformation initiatives.
Strategic Priorities and Key Projects in Phase II
Phase II of Plan ₿ is structured around five core strategic pillars. The first focuses on building SwissLedger, an open blockchain infrastructure designed for Swiss institutions. The second aims to establish Lugano as a hub for digital trade and commodity transactions, leveraging processes like tokenization and programmable payments to modernize commercial activities.
The third pillar centers on privacy-oriented digital identity systems, incorporating zero-knowledge technologies to allow residents to voluntarily and securely verify their identities. A fourth strategic goal includes the development of decentralized artificial intelligence and autonomous economic agents. Lastly, the plan targets a resilient metropolitan infrastructure through distributed networks, decentralized computing, and advanced cybersecurity solutions to ensure uninterrupted city services.
For the next five years, Tether has pledged to contribute up to 5 million Swiss francs, supporting technical expertise, hardware infrastructure investments, research, and hands-on educational programs. Governance and oversight of the project will remain entirely under the Lugano Municipality’s control. All planned initiatives are set to proceed through pilot programs and compliance evaluations at each stage.
PoW.space, Lugano’s dedicated center for blockchain and financial technologies, currently hosts over 100 companies. This ecosystem has helped bridge traditional finance and decentralized solutions within the city. Meanwhile, the Plan ₿ Forum has welcomed more than 4,000 participants from over 60 countries, expanding the city’s role as an international hub for digital assets and urban infrastructure collaborations.
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, described the second phase as one that prioritizes infrastructure and resilience, with an eye toward positioning Lugano as a global center for digital infrastructure.
Ardoino highlighted that Phase II will focus on infrastructure, resilience, and scaling local capabilities, stating that public administration and autonomy will be preserved as Lugano pursues its ambition to become a worldwide leader in digital infrastructure.
Mayor Michele Foletti added that, as 2030 approaches, the city’s freedom will increasingly hinge on the ability to manage its own data and critical services.
Foletti stressed that investments under Plan ₿ Phase II are designed to provide open and robust digital infrastructure, prioritizing the city’s overall interests.
