The city of Cannes aims for a massive adoption of crypto payments, transforming local commerce by the summer of 2025.
Cannes is therefore ready to become the French capital of cryptocurrency payments.
The city is preparing for an epochal transformation in the world of digital payments, aiming to have crypto accepted by almost 90% of its stores by the summer of 2025.
This ambitious initiative is part of a context of growing global interest in new forms of digital currency.
The project, strongly supported by the Mayor David Lisnard, aims to innovate the commercial sector of a city already famous for its international film festival and luxury boutiques.
The decision to adopt cryptocurrencies on a large scale is not random: the city wants to attract a wealthy and highly technological international audience, particularly during peak periods such as the famous Cannes Festival.
As Artem Shaginyan, strategic head of Lunu Pay, explains, the goal is impressive: to involve 90% of local businesses in the use of cryptocurrency payments by 2025. This fact makes Cannes one of the most advanced French cities on this front, ready to demonstrate that cryptocurrency payments are no longer a niche phenomenon linked to the so-called Web3, but a concrete and sustainable reality.
Training for traders: first step towards crypto
Since last February, the municipal administration has activated training courses dedicated to business owners. These meetings aim to provide practical skills on the integration of payment systems in cryptocurrencies in shops and services.
Rue d’Antibes, the main shopping street in Cannes, will probably be the first to massively adopt this technology. It is a clear signal towards modernization and openness to new technologies, with a significant impact on the way tourists and residents make purchases.
David Lisnard, in promoting this initiative, demonstrates a forward-thinking vision, placing Cannes among the first French cities to invest so decisively in this type of digital innovation.
A global movement towards the adoption of crypto
The experience of Cannes does not arise in isolation, but is part of a broader global movement. Several cities around the world are indeed beginning to accept cryptocurrencies for public and private services, pushing towards a new digital normality.
For example, Lugano, in Switzerland, has introduced payment in bitcoin for municipal taxes since December 2023. Cities like Colorado in the United States and Vancouver in Canada have adopted similar practices.
More recently, Panama City announced that from April 2025 it will accept cryptocurrency payments for some local taxes.
France and the pioneering example of Toulouse
In France, the phenomenon is expanding but remains still at the initial stage. However, Toulouse has already set an important precedent: since March 2025, the public transport network Tisséo accepts payments in cryptocurrencies for bus and metro tickets.
Further confirmation comes from a recent survey, which reveals that 39% of executives of small and medium-sized French enterprises have already personally invested in cryptocurrencies. This indicates a progressive familiarization of the entrepreneurial class with this type of digital asset.
These data suggest a profound change in consumption habits and in the economic landscape: cities must adapt to remain competitive in an increasingly global and technological market.
Impact and prospects for Cannes and France
The initiative in Cannes represents a turning point in the spread of cryptocurrency payments in France. The project could indeed serve as a replicable model for many other tourist cities in the country, thus promoting a broader democratization of the use of cryptocurrencies in the French commercial fabric.
The modernization of the payment system is closely linked both to the desire for technological innovation and to the attraction of an international clientele with strong purchasing power.
If the experiment successfully goes into full operation, it could establish a new economic paradigm in which cryptocurrencies become ordinary tools in commercial and tourist routines, further pushing towards a more complete integration with the digital world, including web3 and blockchain.
Towards a crypto and innovative future in Cannes
The decision of Cannes to expand the adoption of cryptocurrency payments marks a significant step towards the digital future not only of the city, but of the whole of France.
The commercial transformation planned by 2025 will change the way of shopping and could generate a very significant technological and tourist impact.
Traders, entrepreneurs, and consumers are called to actively participate in this change, acquiring new skills and habits that will be increasingly demanded in the world to come.
Ultimately, the Cannes strategy invites reflection: investing in technological innovation is no longer an optional choice, but a necessity to attract investments, stimulate the local economy, and consolidate the city’s role on the international stage.
As a result, other French cities might soon follow this example, thus accelerating the digital revolution in payments and the real economy.
