Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, may not be the first place that comes to mind when discussing cryptocurrency-friendly locales. However, this hidden gem has quietly emerged as a hotbed of grassroots crypto enthusiasm and activity. While the city’s crypto adoption score may not be the highest, it is important to note that it is measured on a national scale, encompassing all of Slovenia and not just Ljubljana itself.
In terms of opportunities, Ljubljana excels. The city boasts a high rate of per-capita crypto jobs, companies, and events. This outstanding performance can be attributed to the country’s overall vibrancy and economic development. Despite its smaller population of just over two million people, Slovenia has managed to position itself alongside success stories like Poland and the Czech Republic.
Ljubljana’s development of crypto retail payments sets it apart from other global cities. While it may not have the financial gravitas of places like Hong Kong or London, the city punches well above its weight. As an EU member nation, Ljubljana benefits from regulations under the new MiCA standards, which have been warmly received by the crypto sector. The city is home to organizations like the nonprofit Blockchain Alliance Europe and the Slovenia Bitcoin Association.
Key players in the crypto infrastructure sector also call Ljubljana home. One notable company is Eligma, which operates as GoCrypto. Over the past four years, GoCrypto has created a seamless checkout system that offers both crypto payment options and traditional credit card processing. CEO Dejan Roljic explained that their strategy of making things easy for retailers has helped grow crypto adoption. As a result, Ljubljana now boasts hundreds of retail locations, bars, and venues that accept crypto payments.
But Ljubljana’s crypto connection doesn’t end there. The BTC Company, despite its name, is not a Bitcoin operation but a property manager and developer. Nonetheless, the conveniently-named BTC City shopping complex in Ljubljana serves as a testing ground for GoCrypto’s point-of-sale system.
Despite his involvement with the global crypto movement, Roljic chose to stay in Slovenia, citing the exceptional quality of life as a compelling reason. Besides its natural beauty, Slovenia has gained a reputation as an advanced and sophisticated nation. Concrete metrics like life expectancy, which is higher than that of the United States, demonstrate the country’s overall well-being. Slovenia’s membership in the European Union and the fact that close to 75% of Slovenian adults speak English further solidify its position as an attractive place to live and work.
In conclusion, Ljubljana, Slovenia may not be on everyone’s radar when it comes to cryptocurrencies, but the city’s grassroots crypto enthusiasm and activity should not be overlooked. While it may not rank highly in crypto adoption on a national scale, the city’s opportunities in terms of jobs, companies, and events are outstanding. Ljubljana’s development of crypto retail payments, presence of key crypto infrastructure firms, and excellent quality of life make it a noteworthy player in the global crypto landscape.