Merchants in Cannes, France, the site of the international Cannes Film Festival, are gearing up to accept crypto payments by summer this year to attract clientele with high disposable income and modernize the city’s commercial payment ecosystem. Artem Shaginyan, founder of Web3 payment company Lunu Pay, shared that the Cannes municipal government aims for a 90% adoption rate among local merchants. In a statement to Cointelegraph, Shaginyan highlighted the significance of integrating crypto on a large scale in a city renowned for culture and commerce like Cannes. The move signifies that Web3 payments are becoming mainstream and can function in everyday settings, not just online. In February, Cannes Mayor David Lisnard announced training sessions for business owners to promote crypto payment acceptance in the city. This shift in Cannes aligns with the global trend of governments embracing cryptocurrencies to stay competitive. For instance, Lugano, Switzerland, started accepting Bitcoin and stablecoin payments for taxes, while Colorado in the US allowed crypto tax payments, and Vancouver in Canada explored becoming a “Bitcoin-friendly city.” Recently, Panama City announced the acceptance of crypto for taxes and fees, including Bitcoin, Ether, USDC, and USDT tokens. This move is expected to modernize the city and attract investment and global recognition. As governments and cities worldwide adopt cryptocurrencies, it reflects a growing trend of integrating digital assets into traditional financial systems for greater efficiency and innovation.