Winter Olympics in Italy: VAT refund for visitors also in crypto for the first time
- The 2026 Winter Olympics will be the scene of a crypto premiere: Italy is presenting the first concrete government application of a stablecoin in the EU.
- With Polygon as the technology base and USDC as the payment currency, VAT refunds for international visitors are completely digitalized.
A process that has been characterized by bureaucracy, paper forms and inefficient processes for decades is suddenly completed in seconds. This isn’t superficial cosmetics or a crypto project’s publicity stunt – it’s a small revolution.
Contemporary procedure
Anyone who has ever tried to get a VAT refund abroad knows how absurdly complicated it is. Queuing, confusing forms, long waiting times. And in the end you often get less VAT back than you paid.
The Italians have now moved the process at the airports in Milan, Rome and Venice to the blockchain – and suddenly it works smoothly.
Instant withdrawal in USDC, directly to the wallet, without a bank, without any exchange rate loss. It is precisely moments like these that show how far the traditional financial world is from true customer orientation. And they show why blockchain technology is not just an alternative, but a necessity.
Polygon and USDC – combination for the future
Polygon delivers the scalabilitythat a system of this size needs. The USDC stablecoin brings the necessary stability and interoperability. The third in the group is Global Bluea company that has specialized in tax-free shopping worldwide for decades.
If you shop abroad, are not an EU citizen and want to have your VAT refunded, you can’t ignore Global Blue.
The interaction of these three actors shows how innovative crypto applications can now be for the general public – if government bureaucracy allows them. Thanks to the strong support of the relevant Italian authorities, Polygon is delivering a functioning crypto service to a global audience.
Gold medal for crypto
When several hundred thousand international visitors to the 2026 Winter Olympics experience what a digital financial process that is not controlled by banks feels like, it will be more than a new technical experience.
It’s an aha moment that gives many people a positive perception of cryptocurrency for the first time. If the new system works in Italy – and everything speaks for it – then it won’t stay with Italy. Other airports, other tourism regions and retailers worldwide will want to follow suit.
And that’s exactly the point: the revolution in everyday life through blockchain technology is not happening in white papers, but where people experience it.
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