According to an announcement from the Louisiana Department of Finance on the 17th, Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming stated that the state government plans to accept cryptocurrency as a legal method of paying for state services and allow digital currencies to be integrated into Louisiana’s public operations:
In today's digital age, government systems must continue to evolve and embrace new technologies.
By introducing cryptocurrency as a payment option, we are not only innovating but also providing citizens with flexibility and freedom to interact with state services. Additionally, this unique innovation protects our state from cryptocurrency volatility.
It is understood that local residents can now use the Bitcoin network, Lightning Network or U.S. dollar stablecoins to pay for state government services (the Louisiana Secretary of Wildlife and Fisheries is the first department to accept digital currency payment options, and may continue to expand in the future) .
The state government stated in a statement that by cooperating with BeaPay, it ensures the security of the payment process and avoids price fluctuations in cryptocurrency. Through Bead Pay, the statement stated that both residents and the state government will receive the following benefits:
- Fewer fraudulent transactions
- Louisiana won’t handle cryptocurrencies, avoiding cryptocurrency price volatility
- Any digital wallet with cryptocurrency will work
- Countries receive payments in U.S. dollars
That is, the state government does not seem to want to reserve cryptocurrencies, but instead accepts cryptocurrencies as a form of payment, but still receives payments in U.S. dollars.
Since the current governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, is a Republican, it seems that this move is the result of the Republican Party testing the government’s further support for Bitcoin payments and the public’s reaction.
Trump paid for burgers in Bitcoin
On the other hand, Trump, who has the most influence on Bitcoin among Republicans, treated supporters to burgers at PubKey, a Bitcoin-themed bar in New York, on Wednesday and paid in Bitcoin.
It is understood that this bar, which provides meals and drinks, features Bitcoin and is a community gathering place for local Bitcoin enthusiasts. It also supports Bitcoin payment on the Lightning Network, allowing customers to use Bitcoin for consumption.
That day, Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, asked: "Who wants a burger?" PubKey co-founder Drew Armstrong revealed that Trump bought dozens of burgers for $998.7 and used a payment application based on the Lightning Network Strike payment. The block height at that time was 861871.
"Bitcoin is really happening," Trump said.
X netizen @DavidFBailey said :
The first item the President of the United States purchased with Bitcoin… and because this is America, it had to be a cheeseburger
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