Toulouse City Pioneer Europe's Crypto-Driven Public Transportation

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According to some reports, Toulouse became the first city in France to accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for payments for metro and public transport, starting March 17, 2025, as part of a broader initiative to modernize its transport system.

Europe’s first: Toulouse Metro employs Bitcoin payments

Toulouse’s public transport operator Tisséo began cryptocurrency payments for Metro, Bus, Tram and Cable Car Services on March 17, 2025. This initiative allows users to purchase tickets via the Tisséo mobile app on Android devices and instantly convert Bitcoin (BTC) and 70+ extreme extremes. This protects Tisséo from market volatility while ensuring passengers use digital assets for fares.

Payments will be processed through a partnership with fintech companies Lyzi and Exchange Platform Binance. A single ticket costs around 0.000024 BTC (1.80 Euro) and comes with multi-ride pass and subscription options. This system excludes iOS users who may present accessibility issues.

Accepted cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and USDT. This move coincides with France’s growing adoption of cryptography. This is because, according to a Gemini study, 18% of residents owned digital assets in 2024. Tisséo’s finance chief Sacha Briand cited the goals of modernization and built it on the 2023 rollout of credit card payments on the bus.

However, users must declare a 3916 screw tax transaction and complicate small purchases. Price fluctuations during conversion also pose risk. The Toulouse model reflects the Argentinean system, with 37 cities adopting crypto transport payments by 2019, but first adopting Europe.

Previous French efforts, such as the 2016 Bitcoin Trial of bus company Isilines, lacked the size of the city. While Android’s exclusiveness and problematic tax hurdles can slow down momentum, Toulouse’s success could stimulate wider European adoption.

This initiative highlights changing payment trends and tests Crypto’s viability in public services. As digital currency ownership rises, the Toulouse experiment could redefine urban mobility when addressing regulatory and technical challenges.