**Louisiana Embraces Crypto Payments for State Services**

Louisiana has made a groundbreaking move by accepting cryptocurrency payments for state services. State Treasurer John Fleming announced that residents can now use Bitcoin (BTC), the Bitcoin Lightning Network, and USD Coin (USDC) to pay for various state services. The first crypto transaction was a fine paid to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries via Bitcoin’s Lightning Network.

This initiative results from a collaboration between the state, Bead Pay, and local integration partners. Fleming highlighted that this move aims to reduce fraudulent transactions and modernize government systems. Importantly, all crypto payments will be converted to US dollars to protect the state from volatility concerns.

Republican State Representative Mark Wright, who led the push for crypto acceptance, expressed excitement over the expanded payment options. Wright has been a long-time advocate for digital assets, even setting up a working group in 2022 to explore their viability.

In a related move, Louisiana has banned central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) but continues to embrace other digital currencies.