Louisiana, US: "State Government Accepts Bitcoin Service Payments"

"Accepting BTC, BTC Lightning Network, and USDC"
"States Accept Cryptocurrency, Then Convert to Dollars"

The U.S. state of Louisiana announced on the 18th (local time) that it was the first state to accept Bitcoin (BTC) for payment for state government services.

Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming announced that Louisiana has accepted Bitcoin, the Bitcoin Lightning Network, and the dollar-pegged stablecoin USDC as payment for state government services, and that the state has already seen its first cryptocurrency payment.

Louisiana’s first cryptocurrency government service payment was made by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

State Treasurer Fleming said the state government is working with cryptocurrency payment processor BidPay and various partners in the state to begin accepting cryptocurrency payments in order to combat financial fraud in the state.

According to Fleming, the state finance minister, the state will convert the cryptocurrencies it accepts as a means of payment into U.S. dollars and credit them to the state budget.

Reporter Kwon Seung-won ksw@