Toulouse residents will soon be able to use cryptocurrencies to pay for their travel around the city. On 17 March 2025, Toulouse’s public transport operator, Tisséo, announced that crypto payment services would be available for metros, buses, trams, and cable cars.
Through this initiative, Toulouse has become the first European city to integrate digital currency into its public transportation system. The payment system launched by Tisséo enables users to purchase tickets through the Tisséo mobile app. The platform instantly converts payments made in Bitcoins and 70+ supported altcoins to Euros.
Sasha Briand, head of finance at Tisséo, explains that this initiative falls within a broader strategy of the transport operator to modernize payment, building upon the 2023 introduction of credit card payments on buses.
L’actu du jour
Dans un monde en perpétuelle évolution, Tisséo demeure à la pointe de l’#Innovation et devient le 1er opérateur de #transport européen à proposer la solution de paiement en #cryptomonnaieCe service est disponible sur smartphone Android via l’application Tisséo… pic.twitter.com/PLb2hs0NxX
— Tisséo (@tisseo_officiel) March 17, 2025
Briand says, “This may be 20 or 30% in two to three years. To not miss the boat and as part of a modernization effort, we are launching this payment method.”
The instant Euro conversion keeps Tisséo unaffected by market volatility; meanwhile, passengers effectively utilize digital currency for fares, providing financial stability for the transport operator.
France is looking to deploy various crypto-friendly services to capitalize on growing crypto adoption in the country. Research done by Gemini shows that 18% of the French already own cryptocurrencies. Cannes follows closely as it too is developing a payment system that will accept crypto from residents.
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The Logistics of the Tisséo Crypto Platform
Tisséo has partnered with Lyzi, a fintech firm, and Binance, an exchange platform, to facilitate crypto transactions on its platform. Some Bitcoin maxis, however, have vocalized their disapproval of Binance’s involvement since they don’t approve of middlemen or altcoins.
Advocates for this move, however, have a different take, as they believe that the involvement of Binance will ensure speedier transaction executions.
A single ticket costs approximately 0.000024 BTC (€1.80), and users can choose multi-ride passes and subscriptions. However, it is important to note that this initiative limits access to Android users only, potentially creating accessibility challenges for those using other operating systems.
Accepted cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Tether, although users must consider certain regulatory requirements when using crypto for travel payments.
Users must declare transactions made using cryptocurrencies on tax form 3916-bis, which might add complexity to the whole experience. They also might face price fluctuations during the conversion process.
Notably, a 30% capital gains tax applies to cryptocurrency transactions.
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Crypto Cities on the Rise: Are Crypto Payments Future of Urban Spaces?
Crypto cities are on the rise. While Toulouse might be the first European city to enable small crypto transactions in everyday life, other cities worldwide have had a head start in adopting crypto for daily use cases.
Since 2019, residents in around 60 cities in Argentina have been able to load up with SUBE cards using crypto. The UAE, too, allows payment in hotels, malls, and restaurants using Bitcoin. However, it should be noted that Bitcoin is not recognized as legal tender in the UAE.
Recently, the UAE has seen a boom in real-world asset tokenization (RWA), and an aspirant can pay for a piece of real estate with Bitcoins. The Crypto Valley in Switzerland is another example of a place where residents were allowed to pay for services via Bitcoin as far back as 2016.
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Key Takeaways
- Toulouse is the first European city to accept crypto payments for public transport.
- Cannes is reportedly developing its own crypto payment system.
- The initiative is currently limited to Android users via the Tisséo app.
The post Tisséo Enables Toulouse to Become the First European City to Accept Crypto for Public Transportation appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
