Share this article
A 'Crypto Shopping Mall' Is Being Tested in Slovenia
A major shopping center in Slovenia is widening a cryptocurrency payments pilot across 24 businesses.
Updated Sep 13, 2021, 8:03 a.m. Published Jun 13, 2018, 3:00 a.m.
A major shopping center based in Slovenia is widening a cryptocurrency payments pilot.
BTC City Ljubljana, located in Slovenia's capital of Ljubljana, will allow a group of 150 people to use cryptocurrencies at 24 businesses located in the sprawling complex, which according to online materials boasts over 500 storefronts. Those include services for clothing and electronics as well as restaurants, Slovenian TV channel "24 Ur" reported on Monday.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Despite the seemingly relevant name, there's no relationship between bitcoin and the popular shopping complex, which has been called one of Europe's largest. It first opened in the 1950s before being renamed as the Blagovno Transportni Center – or BTC – Ljubljana.
Earlier this year, the shopping center co-developed the project with startup Eligma, which offers a payment system dubbed Elipay that facilitates transactions in cryptocurrencies by way of a mobile app.
With more than 500 stores on its territory, the shopping center aims to become the first retail hub in the world to accept cryptocurrencies.
The goal to establish a "Bitcoin City" in Slovenia as suggested by local reports was supported by the country's leadership when Prime Minister Miro Cerar and the secretary of state Tadej Slapnik visited the center earlier this month, during which Cerar had a cup of coffee bought by Slapnik using cryptocurrency.
Cerar also talked up blockchain last year during a conference appearance. As previously reported, the prime minister pointed to the use of blockchain within public services – a goal his administration was said to be seeking at the time.
"We are also already laying the foundations for the initial pilot testing of the technology in the state administration," he said at the launch of a new think tank dedicated to the tech.
Bitcoin and euro image via CoinDesk
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Asia Morning Briefing: Data shows legacy media took a more balanced view of bitcoin in 2025
Media attention shifted from bitcoin’s environmental footprint to crime and kidnapping in 2025, while overall sentiment remained broadly neutral, according to crypto intelligence platform Perception.
What to know:
- In 2025, mainstream media coverage of Bitcoin became more balanced, with neutral reporting surpassing negative stories.
- The shift in narrative was driven by the exhaustion of earlier critiques rather than increased enthusiasm for Bitcoin.
- AI emerged as the dominant topic in media, overshadowing Bitcoin and driving more significant sentiment swings.
Top Stories
