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Cannes, the renowned French city famous for its international film festival, is set to become a hub for cryptocurrency adoption. By summer 2025, the majority of shops in Cannes are expected to accept crypto payments, aiming to attract affluent clientele and modernize the city’s commercial payment ecosystem.
Artem Shaginyan, founder and head of strategy at Web3 payment company Lunu Pay, highlighted the significance of this move:
“This is a big signal. When a city like Cannes, known globally for culture and commerce, starts integrating crypto at scale, it shows that Web3 payments aren’t just a niche thing anymore. It’s about proving that crypto can work in everyday settings, not just online or in theory.”
In February, Cannes Mayor David Lisnard announced a crypto payment integration training session for business owners and professionals to promote the widespread acceptance of crypto payments in the city.
Cannes’ initiative reflects a broader trend of crypto adoption by city, state, and federal governments worldwide. For instance, in December 2023, the Swiss city of Lugano began accepting Bitcoin and stablecoin payments for taxes and municipal fees. Similarly, Panama City announced in April 2025 that taxes and municipal fees could now be paid in crypto, including Bitcoin, Ether, USDC, and USDT.
