April 29, 2025
By Our Correspondent
The 2025 Crypto Report released by the consulting firm Multipolitan has identified Ljubljana as the most crypto-friendly city globally, surpassing Hong Kong and Zurich, which are tied for second place.
The report evaluated 20 cities based on several key criteria, including the clarity of licensing procedures for crypto operators, capital gains tax rates on cryptocurrency assets, digital infrastructure with average internet speeds exceeding 100 Mbps and extensive 5G coverage, the percentage of businesses accepting cryptocurrency payments, and the affordability of housing measured by the average house price relative to average income.
Multipolitan highlighted that Ljubljana boasts an impressive ratio of one crypto ATM for every 2,200 residents, one of the highest in Europe. Additionally, the rate of cryptocurrency payment adoption in local stores reached over 6 percent in 2024, significantly higher than the European average of 2.3 percent.
Following Ljubljana in the rankings are Hong Kong, which has more than 200 crypto ATMs and a tax system that exempts individual capital gains; Zurich, known for its clear regulations and a dense concentration of fintech companies focused on cryptocurrency; Singapore, recognized for its Payment Services Act governing crypto service providers; and Abu Dhabi, which has established the Abu Dhabi Global Market program to attract exchanges and startups in the cryptocurrency sector.
Slovenia has also achieved the top position in Multipolitan’s Crypto Wealth Concentration Index. As per the data from 2025, the average value of crypto assets owned by a Slovenian citizen is approximately $240,500, which exceeds Cyprus’s average of $175,000 by over $65,000, while Hong Kong ranks third with an average of $97,500.
Despite the United States having the highest number of registered crypto users worldwide, it ranks 17th in the index, with an average value of $23,300 per owner. Multipolitan’s research indicates that around 14% of Slovenia’s adult population possesses cryptocurrencies, surpassing the European average of about 10%.
Slovenia is also implementing the European Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which was formally adopted in 2023 and will be fully operational by 2024. MiCA establishes standardized regulations within the European Union for the authorization of stablecoin issuers, the management of digital asset portfolios, and the safeguarding of investors against fraud and malpractice.
Furthermore, Ljubljana hosts the Blockchain Alliance Europe, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the adoption of blockchain technologies at both institutional and industrial levels. In 2025, the city organized over 30 international events and conferences focused on crypto and blockchain, including the European Blockchain Summit, which attracted more than 4,000 industry participants.
Another significant initiative is the partnership between Blocksquare and Vera Capital, initiated on April 18, 2025, aimed at tokenizing US real estate valued at a total of USD 1 billion, utilizing blockchain technology to enable fractional ownership of commercial real estate.
Ljubljana has made significant investments in its digital infrastructure to promote cryptocurrency adoption, featuring an internet network with an average speed of 148 Mbps—one of the fastest in Europe—alongside 98% coverage of 5G mobile networks. Additionally, over 500 merchants have implemented contactless payment solutions that support cryptocurrency wallets.
In 2024, the Slovenian government launched a tax incentive program aimed at blockchain startups and businesses that accept cryptocurrency payments, lowering the corporate income tax rate to 15% for innovative companies registered in Ljubljana.
