According to a 17 September announcement from the Louisiana Department of Treasury, Louisiana's Treasurer John Fleming revealed that the state government plans to accept cryptocurrency as a legitimate form of payment for state services. This move will allow digital currencies to be integrated into Louisiana's public operations.
Fleming stated, "In today's digital age, government systems must continuously evolve and embrace new technologies. By introducing cryptocurrency as a payment option, we are not only innovating but also providing citizens with greater flexibility and freedom in their interactions with state services. Moreover, this unique innovation protects our state from cryptocurrency volatility."
Local residents will now have the option to use Bitcoin, the Lightning Network, or stablecoins like USD Coin (USDC) to pay for state services. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is the first department to adopt the digital currency payment option, with plans to expand this in the future.
The state government has partnered with BeaPay to ensure a secure payment process, mitigating the impact of cryptocurrency price fluctuations. Through BeaPay, both residents and the state will benefit from reduced fraudulent transactions, and the state will receive payments in U.S. dollars rather than directly handling cryptocurrencies. The system allows any digital wallet with cryptocurrency to be used for payments, but the state will only receive fiat currency, signalling that Louisiana does not intend to hold or store cryptocurrencies.
This initiative appears to be a step in the Republican-led state's exploration of broader support for Bitcoin payments, under the leadership of current Governor Jeff Landry.
Read more: Trump criticizes Fed for cutting interest rates at a New York Bitcoin bar
Meanwhile, one of Bitcoin's most influential supporters within the Republican Party, Donald Trump, made headlines by purchasing burgers using Bitcoin at a Bitcoin-themed pub in New York on Wednesday.
At PubKey, a bar known as a hub for local Bitcoin enthusiasts and a place that supports Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network, Trump treated his supporters to burgers and paid with Bitcoin.
According to reports, Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, asked the crowd, "Who wants burgers?" PubKey's co-founder Drew Armstrong revealed that Trump spent $998.7 on dozens of burgers, using the Lightning Network payment app Strike to complete the transaction. The transaction was recorded at block height 861871.
Trump reportedly said, "Bitcoin is really happening." Twitter user @DavidFBailey remarked, "The first item purchased by a U.S. president with Bitcoin... and because this is America, it had to be cheeseburgers. 🇺🇸"
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