Swiss Resort Town Zermatt Accepts Bitcoin for Government Services
Zermatt, a municipality in Switzerland at the foot of the Matterhorn known for its ski resort, has started accepting bitcoin for government services. The Zermatt town hall now has a point-of-sale solution, installed by Zug-based Bitcoin Suisse, to accept the cryptocurrency. A spokesperson for the municipality has shared more details with news.Bitcoin.com.
Also read: Dubai Launching Crypto Valley in Tax-Free Zone – No Personal or Corporate Income Tax Swiss Municipality Accepts Bitcoin
The Swiss municipality of Zermatt now accepts bitcoin in collaboration with Zug-based crypto financial services provider Bitcoin Suisse. Zermatt is located in the district of Visp in southern Switzerland’s canton of Valais, beneath the picturesque Matterhorn. With a population of about 5,800, the town is one of the country’s most popular tourist resorts, especially for skiing. Bitcoin Suisse announced on Wednesday: A point-of-sale solution provided by Bitcoin Suisse has been installed in the Zermatt town hall so that fees for services from local authorities can be paid in bitcoin. Zermatt. No Tax Payments Though
According to the announcement by both Zermatt and Bitcoin Suisse, the town “will accept bitcoin as a means of payment for local taxes and official transactions with immediate effect … In addition to having access to a point-of-sale device in the Zermatt town hall, taxpayers will also be able to pay their taxes at communal level using bitcoin.”
However, when news.Bitcoin.com reached out to the municipality for more information, a spokesperson for Zermatt said on Thursday: Unfortunately, we would like to inform you that we had spoken with the tax department and they informed us that this [paying taxes with bitcoin] is not possible. I’m sorry to disappoint you in this regard.
The Process and Mayor’s Comments
In its announcement, Bitcoin Suisse explained the process of paying the municipality with bitcoin. Anyone wanting to pay with cryptocurrency will need to apply directly with Zermatt. They will then receive an email with a link to access the town’s online payment portal, where they can transfer bitcoin directly from their wallet to Zermatt’s. Bitcoin Suisse will convert the cryptocurrency sent into Swiss francs and transfer the amount in CHF to the municipality’s bank account.
Romy Biner-Hauser, Mayor of Zermatt, commented: An innovative, pioneering spirit is one of the trademarks of Zermatt, which is why we are happy to support residents in providing them with the solutions they require. Zermatt Mayor Romy Biner-Hauser
Bitcoin Suisse similarly helped the city of Zug accept bitcoin as a means of payment back in 2016. The company currently offers a range of crypto-related financial services, including buying, selling, custody, lending, tokenization, and payment solutions.
Biner-Hauser said the idea of accepting payments in bitcoin came from “crypto valley” Zug. While she does not expect many people to pay with the digital currency, the mayor is curious about new technology, Bloomberg conveyed. She was further quoted as saying: Everyone is talking about cryptocurrencies and blockchain and if you don’t try it out, you don’t get smarter.
What do you think of Zermatt accepting bitcoin? Do you think other governments will follow? Let us know in the comments section below.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation, endorsement, or sponsorship of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.
Images courtesy of Shutterstock and Reuters.
Did you know you can buy and sell BCH privately using our noncustodial, peer-to-peer Local Bitcoin Cash trading platform? The local.Bitcoin.com marketplace has thousands of participants from all around the world trading BCH right now. And if you need a bitcoin wallet to securely store your coins, you can download one from us here. Share this story: Tags in this story accept bitcoin, bitcoin suisse, BTC, crypto assets, Crypto Valley, Cryptocurrency, Digital Currency, local government, mayor, municipality, ski resort, swiss, Switzerland, tax payments, Town, Virtual Currency, zermatt, Zug Related Close to $6k in Bitcoin Cash Tips Paid to Read.cash Authors Last Week NEWS | Jamie Redman
The read.cash blog has been a resource for the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) community for a while now but ever since… read more. Bitcoin.com Update: Dev Fund Proposal "Will Not Go Through" Without More Agreement NEWS | Graham Smith
The BCH infrastructure funding proposal initially announced by Jiang Zhuoer on January 22 will not go through as planned without… read more. Kevin Helms
A student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.