According to Cointelegraph, the government of Louisiana has made a significant move by accepting its first-ever cryptocurrency payment. State Treasurer John Fleming announced that residents now have the option to pay for state services using Bitcoin (BTC), the Bitcoin Lightning Network, and the US dollar-pegged stablecoin USD Coin (USDC). This development marks a new era for the state, embracing digital currencies for public transactions.
The inaugural crypto payment was processed for a fine directed to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries via Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. Fleming highlighted that this initiative is a result of collaboration between the state, Bead Pay, and other integration partners. He emphasized that this move aims to reduce fraudulent transactions and modernize government systems to align with the digital age.
Fleming stated, “By introducing cryptocurrency as a payment option, we’re not just innovating; we’re providing our citizens with flexibility and freedom in interacting with state services.” He also assured that the state would receive the payments in fiat currency, as the service converts crypto payments into US dollars, thus mitigating previous concerns about accepting cryptocurrency.
Republican State Representative Mark Wright, who led the effort for the state to accept crypto, expressed his enthusiasm about the expanded payment options. Wright had established a digital assets working group in May 2022, which concluded that cryptocurrency would be a viable form of payment. He also spearheaded a 2021 Louisiana House resolution that recognized the contributions of Bitcoin’s anonymous inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto, to economic security.
In addition to accepting crypto payments, Louisiana has also taken legislative steps regarding digital currencies. In June, the state amended its laws to ban central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and set regulations for crypto miners and node operators. The legislation prohibits the state from participating in tests for, accepting, or requiring payments using a CBDC, but it does not ban other forms of digital currency payments.
