The picturesque French city of Cannes, renowned for its prestigious film festival, is set to embrace cryptocurrency payments across most of its commercial establishments by summer 2025. According to Artem Shaginyan, founder of Web3 payment company Lunu Pay, the municipal government is aiming for an ambitious 90% adoption rate among local merchants, signifying a major push toward modernizing the city’s payment infrastructure to attract high-spending tourists and position Cannes as a forward-thinking destination.
This crypto integration initiative, backed by Cannes Mayor David Lisnard who announced dedicated training sessions for business owners in February, represents a strategic move to enhance the city’s commercial appeal. “This is a big signal,” Shaginyan told Cointelegraph, emphasizing that Cannes’ adoption demonstrates cryptocurrency’s transition from a niche technology to a practical everyday payment solution in one of the world’s most prestigious tourism and cultural centers.
The coastal resort city joins a growing list of jurisdictions embracing cryptocurrency for official payments, reflecting a global trend of government-supported digital asset adoption. Other notable examples include Switzerland’s Lugano accepting itcoin">Bitcoin for taxes since December 2023, Colorado permitting crypto tax payments since September 2022, Vancouver’s recent initiative to become a “itcoin">Bitcoin-friendly city,” and Panama City’s April 2025 announcement enabling cryptocurrency payment for taxes and municipal fees—all moves aimed at enhancing economic competitiveness and attracting investment in an increasingly digital financial landscape.
