Panama City’s making waves – and not just in the canal. Mayor Mizrachi dropped a crypto bombshell in April 2025, letting residents pay municipal fees with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins. Unlike El Salvador’s rocky crypto journey, Panama City’s playing it smart with instant USD conversion and careful planning. It’s the first government institution to go all-in on crypto for city services, from parking tickets to building permits. This bold move might just reshape how cities handle money.
While El Salvador stumbles with its grand Bitcoin experiment, Panama City just crashed the crypto party – and they’re doing it their own way. In a groundbreaking move announced by Mayor Mayer Mizrachi in mid-April 2025, Panama City’s council voted to become the first government institution accepting cryptocurrency payments for everything from parking tickets to building permits.
This isn’t your typical cautious pilot program. Panama City’s going all in, accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and two stablecoins for the full range of municipal services. Want to pay your property taxes in Bitcoin? No problem. Building permit fees in Ethereum? Done. They’re even throwing in some stablecoins to keep things practical for the crypto-nervous crowd. The city partnered with a bank to ensure all crypto payments are converted to USD immediately.
Panama City boldly embraces crypto payments, accepting Bitcoin and Ethereum alongside stablecoins for all municipal services – no half measures here.
The timing couldn’t be more interesting. As El Salvador grapples with IMF headaches and Bitcoin blues, Panama City’s swooping in to show how crypto adoption might actually work at the municipal level. They’re joining the ranks of Miami and Lugano, but with a twist – they’re doing it bigger and bolder. The announcement triggered a surge as Bitcoin soared to $68,321 within hours.
The benefits are pretty clear-cut. Blockchain transparency means better tracking of tax collections. Digital payments reduce cash dependency. And let’s face it – anything that makes dealing with city bureaucracy easier is a win for everyone. The shift mirrors the broader banking sector transformation as traditional financial institutions embrace blockchain technology.
The city’s also positioning itself as Latin America’s new crypto hub, which isn’t too shabby for regional bragging rights.
But they’re not being reckless about it. The limited list of accepted cryptocurrencies shows they’re thinking this through. Including stablecoins? Smart move. That’s their hedge against Bitcoin’s notorious mood swings.
They’re also prioritizing education for both city workers and residents – because nothing kills innovation faster than confusion.
The impact could ripple well beyond Panama’s borders. This move signals cryptocurrency’s evolution from speculative asset to practical payment tool. Other cities are watching, taking notes.
And while skeptics might scoff, Panama City’s just shown that sometimes the boldest moves come from unexpected places. They’re not just accepting crypto – they’re embracing it, full stop.
