Bermuda Now Accepts USDC Crypto for Taxes and Government Services
Added 2019-10-17 21:00:00 +0000 UTChttps://www.coindesk.com/bermuda-now-accepts-usdc-crypto-for-taxes-and-government-services
Residents of Bermuda can now pay their taxes in cryptocurrency.
The Government of Bermuda announced Wednesday it will accept payments in USD Coin (USDC) “for taxes, fees and other government services,” according to a press release by crypto finance startup Circle.
USDC is a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar launched a year ago by cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and Circle. To date, over $1 billion worth of USDC has been issued between the two startups.
In what looks to be the first for a sovereign nation, Bermuda will be supporting USDC as an acceptable tax payment for some 60,000 residents.
What’s more, support for other “decentralized finance protocols and services” outside of USDC are also in the works as part of a broader initiative to integrate cryptocurrencies into official government operations, the press release stated.
Bermuda also announced Wednesday it would be collaborating with blockchain startup Shyft Network to launch a digital identity program benefiting individuals doing business in the country.
About Bermuda’s push for USDC adoption, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire told CoinDesk via email:
“Bermuda is focused on enabling financial services to be built and delivered using cryptocurrency and digital assets.”
The Bermuda government launched a blockchain task force in conjunction with the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) in late 2017. It went on to pass legislation on initial coin offerings (ICOs) and create a regulatory sandbox for cryptocurrency companies.
https://www.coindesk.com/bermuda-now-accepts-usdc-crypto-for-taxes-and-government-services
