FAQ
MyLugano App
LVGA Token
Environmental impact
Who it is aimed at
How to Start
Account Management
Management of Funds
Reservations
Analogue cards
I own a business in Lugano
App MyLugano
The Mylugano App is the City of Lugano’s official platform for promoting local shopping. Through the App you can access discounts and obtain LVGA cashback with every purchase at affiliated businesses. LVGAs accumulated in your e-wallet can be spent how and where you want at all partners affiliated with the circuit.
Downloading the App and joining the MyLugano community allows you to:
– Receive your MyLugano City Card and activate an e-wallet to access discounts, obtain LVGAs and pay with accumulated funds
– Benefit from a bonus of LVGA 500 (CHF 5) upon activation offered by the City and discounts of up to 10% in the form of cashback at all Lugano businesses and public facilities associated with the circuit
– Book and purchase tickets for events, experiences and public facilities in the city at a reduced price by conveniently paying in CHF or LVGA from your app
Moreover, thanks to MyLugano, you can actively support local small- to medium-sized traders, experience transactions with digital currencies in a safe and secure environment, and contribute to the development of a highly innovative socio-economic project.
Within our ‘Find Partners’ section on the App and website, you will find a list of business partners and facilities at which you can pay and receive cashback in LVGA. The number of partners is constantly growing and they range from shops, pharmacies, bars, restaurants, leisure attractions, schools and more. In addition, you can use it at any time to book admissions and purchase discounted tickets for numerous city venues and attractions.
MyLugano was created during the critical pandemic period, firstly as a booking platform to enable the management of public venues and guarantee social tracking and distancing, and secondly as a measure to support the local economy. The project took over and transformed the Lugano Card by digitising it and integrating it into an App together with a digital wallet. Through the cashback mechanism and the use of a local payment token (the LVGA), the App creates an incentive for local spending and contributes to the sustenance of the city’s economic circuit.
LVGA Token
The LVGA is the official payment token of the City of Lugano based on blockchain technology. It represents an alternative form of digital payment within the MyLugano circuit and its function is to incentivise local spending in commercial activities affiliated to the MyLugano circuit. LVGAs can be purchased within the MyLugano App via credit card and obtained through cashback during your purchases and spent to purchase goods and services in affiliated shops in the city. Unlike other cryptocurrencies, LVGAs cannot be exchanged for other currencies or cryptocurrencies and are not subject to fluctuations (their value being pegged to that of the Swiss Franc with a fixed exchange rate of 100 LVGA = 1 CHF).
Yes, LVGAs are the City of Lugano’s official payment token, approved by the Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) as an alternative form of payment within the city’s economic circuit and therefore having the same value as the Swiss franc. The value of the LVGA is linked to that of the Swiss Franc with a fixed exchange rate of 100 LVGA=1 CHF.
Technically, LVGAs can be likened to a cryptocurrency as they are based on blockchain technology that certifies transactions. Unlike other cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, LVGAs exist only within the MyLugano wallet, have value only within the city’s economic circuit and cannot be exchanged or sold with other currencies. Furthermore, the value of LVGA is not subject to fluctuation as it is “pegged” to that of the Swiss franc. The LVGA therefore has no speculative intentions but exists solely and exclusively as a form of incentive for local spending in Lugano.
– Download the App and activate your account: When you activate your MyLugano Card you automatically receive the CHF paid for the activation in LVGA in your digital wallet. For example, if you purchase a MyLugano Card with a 5-year validity for 10 CHF you will automatically receive LVGA 1000 in your digital wallet (i.e. 10 CHF). On top of this you will receive an additional LVGA 500 (5 CHF) offered by the city upon completion of activation as initial credit
– Purchasing at MyLugano circuit-affiliated merchants: with every purchase worth CHF 5 or more at a participating merchant, you receive 10% cashback in LVGAs, which will be paid to you directly by the merchant during the in-store transaction
– Purchasing tickets and entrances: go to the ‘Experience Lugano’ section of your app, book an entrance to e.g. the Lido and automatically receive LVGA cashback
Download the MyLugano App and activate your MyLugano card with e-wallet. You will immediately receive a sum of LVGA to spend wherever and however you like within the circuit.
Environmental impact
There is a lot of talk about the environmental impact and how cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are ‘energy intensive’. This is a very important and complex issue and the reasoning should be extended to other economic sectors as a line of comparison. Technology is advancing very rapidly and today there are alternative technological solutions that significantly reduce the environmental impact of using cryptocurrencies. The City of Lugano, as an energy city, is very attentive and sensitive to this issue and for LVGA has adopted a technological solution aimed at minimising energy expenditure. The LVGA in fact relies on 3Achain, a private blockchain, promoted by the city of Lugano itself, together with various local public and private companies. This blockchain uses a consensus protocol called ‘Proof of Authority’, where transactions are validated by a small number of ‘validators’ chosen for their authority and reputation. Compared to traditional ‘Proof of work’ protocols, ‘Proof of Authority’ protocols drastically reduce the energy required to validate a single block. The solution adopted has already earned the city several awards and can be explored further at: www.3Achain.org
Who it is aimed at
The MyLugano App is aimed at residents, non-residents, workers, tourists and students over the age of 14, who want to benefit from discounts and enjoy a highly innovative shopping experience. The App is also provided free of charge to all shopkeepers in the city who are part of the MyLugano loyalty circuit, with an interface dedicated to them, to manage transactions with their customers.
No, this functionality is only available from the age of 14 (completed).
Yes. All students enrolled at the three universities in Lugano (USI, SUPSI and Franklin) regardless of whether they are residents or not benefit from the maximum 10% discount. When requesting your card in the App, click on the “Study in Lugano” option. You will be asked to provide your university email as verification of your identity to finalise the process of obtaining your card and digital wallet.
Yes. All employees of companies affiliated to the circuit, regardless of whether they are resident or not, benefit from the maximum discount of 10%. When applying for your card in the App, click on the option “I work for a company affiliated to the MyLugano circuit”. You will be asked to provide your professional e-mail as verification of your identity to finalise the process of obtaining your card. and digital wallet.
Patricians in Lugano, who are not domiciled in the municipality of Lugano, can apply for the digital MyLugano Card by submitting the patrician certificate by e-mail at the time of application or by going directly to one of the City Info Points .
Residents of Lugano with a B or C permit can register as residents and obtain a MyLugano Card. Temporary residents with an L permit, for example, can register as non-residents and obtain a MyLugano Pass.
Yes, you can apply for a physical card with a QR code with which you can access discounts and obtain LVGAs to spend wherever and however you want within the circuit.
How to Start
You can download the MyLugano App free of charge from the Apple store or Android store.
Complete your profile registration and then obtain your card and wallet in a few easy steps.
- On the main screen, click on ‘Get Card’.
- Select the option that best represents you from: “I live in Lugano” if you live in the city, “I don’t live in Lugano” if you come to the city but don’t live there, “I already have a MyLugano Card” if you wish to digitise your physical Card, or “Other” if you attend a university or work at a company affiliated with the MyLugano circuit.
- Choose the amount and validity you want and make the payment.
- Enter the required personal information, and take a selfie. You will be asked to take a front and back photograph of your ID card to verify your identity.
Once your information has been checked, you will receive by e-mail a six-digit PIN code to be entered on the final screen to activate your card.
- Done! Your MyLugano Card or digital MyLugano Pass and digital wallet are ready to be used at partners and affiliated establishments!
- You will receive a letter at home confirming the activation of your account. This is an additional security measure to prevent attempts at fraud or data theft. If you receive the letter and have not requested profile activation, please contact our support immediately: my@lugano.ch
You can download the App and use it free of charge. If you wish to access the discounts and use the LVGAs, you must obtain a MyLugano Card. You can choose between a duration of 1 to 5 years. The cost varies depending on the duration. However, this is not a real cost as the amount will be returned to you immediately upon activation of your profile in the form of LVGA credit to spend wherever and however you wish. In addition, the city rewards you with an additional LVGA 500 (CHF 5).
- Download the MyLugano App to your device.
- In the ‘Cards’ section, click on the ‘Scan Card’ button and then on ‘I already have a MyLugano Card’.
- Enter the required personal information, take a selfie and upload a front and back photograph of a valid ID. They will be used to verify your personal details and identity at the time of payment.
- Once your information has been checked, you will receive a PIN code by e-mail to be entered in the ‘Cards’ screen to complete the process.
- Done! The data from your analogue MyLugano Card or Lugano Card have been transferred into the app. Your card is now a digital MyLugano Card!
- You will receive a letter at home confirming the activation of your account. This is an additional security measure to prevent attempts at fraud or data theft. If you receive the letter and have not requested profile activation, please contact our support immediately: my@lugano.ch
The MyLugano App makes it possible to receive and make payments and is similar to traditional banking apps. The project is subject to the Federal Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) and follows the standard regulations in force. Identity documents and selfies are required for security reasons and to properly verify the applicant’s identity in order to avoid fraud attempts. For further details, please do not hesitate to consult the privacy policy section of our website.
Yes, however, you will not be able to access discounts, obtain and make payments with LVGAs.
The 4-digit code required by the App is a personal code that is set directly by the user, like the PIN code that must be entered when unlocking one’s smartphone. The 6-digit code, on the other hand, is provided by the system and must be entered solely for the purpose of finalising the activation of one’s account.
Account Management
Once you have created your account you can access it simply by entering the 4-digit security code. In case of important App updates or when logging out or if you wish to access the App from a new device you will be asked to re-enter your e-mail and password.
Click on ‘Forgot password’, enter your e-mail address and click on ‘Reset password’. An e-mail will be sent to your e-mail address with a link you can open from your smartphone to reset your app password.
Enter your app settings and in the security section click on ‘Change Password’. You will be asked to confirm your old password and enter your new one before confirmation.
After 4 unsuccessful attempts, the App will send you back to the start page where you can re-enter your e-mail + password. Click on retrieve password to define a new security code. Alternatively, uninstall and reinstall the App to restore your security code.
Enter your App settings and in the security section click on ‘Change PIN’. You will be asked to enter your current PIN and then you can choose a new one and confirm it.
Contact our support. Your account and digital wallet are closely linked to your personal e-mail address. You will therefore need to proceed with the creation of a new account with a new e-mail address. Our team will then permanently close the previous account and transfer any remaining funds to the new one.
Your card and digital wallet are linked directly to your e-mail address that you provided when activating your account. You will then need to contact our support.
In the settings section of your app, click on ‘profile’ and edit/update your personal information.
Starting three weeks before your card expires, you will receive automatic e-mails inviting you to renew your card. Then go to the “Cards” section of your App and click on renew your card. Follow the directions and select the renewal duration. Our team will check that all the information provided matches and will approve your request and provide you with an activation PIN to finalise your card renewal.
The MyLugano App allows the creation of family accounts, which are useful if you wish to purchase tickets or admissions to city events and facilities for multiple people and obtain multiple cashbacks. Go to the “Cards” section of your App and click on “Add a member to your family” if you wish to bring this account into your own, or “Join a family” if you wish to connect yours with that of a family member. The procedure requires that both family members have a valid and active digital card within their app. The procedure is done from app to app by scanning a QR code.
At any time you can send an e-mail to my@lugano.ch and we will close your account and delete all your data. Please note: there is no refund of any remaining credit.
By downloading the MyLugano App to a new device and entering your login credentials, your user account will appear with data and credit in LVGA. If you wish, you can change your access data at any time by resetting your password. If you wish to block your card for security reasons, please send an e-mail to the following address: my@lugano.ch
Management of Funds
– Activating your account: When you activate your MyLugano Card, you automatically receive the CHF paid for the purchase of the card in LVGA in your digital wallet. For example, if you purchase a MyLugano Card with 5 years validity, for the price of 10 CHF, you automatically receive LVGA 1000 in your digital wallet. On top of this you will receive an additional LVGA 500 (CHF 5) offered by the city upon completion of activation as initial credit.
– Purchasing at MyLugano-affiliated merchants: with each purchase of 5 CHF or more in value at a MyLugano-affiliated merchant, you receive up to 10% cashback in LVGAs, which will be paid to you directly by the merchant during the in-store transaction.
– Purchasing tickets and entrances: enter the ‘Vivere Lugano’ section of your App and book an event or entrance to the Lido, for example, you will automatically receive LVGA cashback.
– For in-store payments go to the wallet section of your App and click on ‘Pay’. If your funds are sufficient, simply scan the merchant’s App QR code to complete the payment. Once payment is confirmed, remember to ask for cashback!
– For the purchase of tickets or admissions to events select the payment option in LVGA and confirm the transaction.
You can buy LVGA directly in your App in the ‘Wallet’ section by clicking on ‘Buy LVGA’.
– In the shop, after making a payment, go to the ‘Wallet’ section of your App and click on ‘Receive cashback’. The merchant with his App calculates the amount of cashback and scans your QR code to credit you with the amount. Depending on your card, the standard cashback is 10% (for MyLugano Card) and 5% (for MyLugano Pass) calculated on the purchase total.
– When purchasing tickets, or admissions to events, from your App, select the ticket, pay for it in LVGA and the platform will automatically pay the cashback amount into your digital wallet once the purchase process is complete.
Yes, payments via LVGA also entitle you to LVGA cashback. This is credited with a subsequent transaction, if you are purchasing in-store, and automatically, if you are purchasing a ticket or booking a facility from your app.
Yes, this is possible.
Check the “Find Partners” section of our website or App and verify that the merchant is actually on the partner list with the LVGA option. If the amount paid is CHF 5 or more, you are entitled to receive cashback. You can report any abuse at: my@lugano.ch
You can view your balance at any time by entering the ‘Wallet’ section of your App.
Click on ‘Your funds’ within the ‘Wallet’ section of your App to access the list of your transactions.
After each transaction, the App informs you with a special screen if the transaction has been approved. If you have activated push notifications on your device, you will receive an additional confirmation message after payment has been made.
It normally takes less than 5 seconds to complete a transaction with LVGAs. If you have not received any confirmation message or if the transaction has stopped proceed as follows:
- Check that there is a good Internet connection
- Check that push notifications are system-enabled for the MyLugano App
- In the ‘Wallet’ section of your App click on ‘Transaction List’ and check whether the transaction has been registered correctly.
If the transaction is listed under ‘Your Funds’, it means that it was successful and your balance has been updated accordingly. Otherwise, if it is not there, try repeating the transaction. If the problem persists, please contact our support at my@lugano.ch .
Whenever you reset your password, the list of transactions is reset in your app. If you need to retrieve them, please write to us at my@lugano.ch.
LVGAs can be transferred between private users with MyLugano wallets. The transfer of LVGAs from one user to another is subject to a monthly cap of 20,000 LVGA Points.
LVGA cannot be exchanged for other currencies or cryptocurrencies.
Reservations
The procedure for making a reservation on MyLugano is very simple:
- Select the venue or event you wish to book
- Select the date from the calendar and the desired time slot (if available)
- Enter the required personal information, type of entry and click on continue
- Check the booking details on the summary page before confirming
- By accepting the conditions and clicking on book you access the summary page
- Proceed to online payment by choosing the desired method
- Done! You will receive a confirmation e-mail with a QR code to show at the entrance.
You can choose to pay for your tickets with a credit card or with accumulated LVGAs.
If you have booked from the App, you can access your tickets and reservations directly from the ‘Cards’ section.
If you have booked an entrance with your App, simply show the confirmation QR code by displaying the digital ticket within the App or within the confirmation e-mail.
Simply show the confirmation e-mail with the QR code we sent you or alternatively print it out to show at the checkout.
By booking from the App with an account and a MyLugano card (Card or Pass) you benefit from discounted fares and tickets and receive LVGA cashback directly in your digital wallet at the time of purchase. In addition, you can pay with your accumulated funds by selecting LVGA as your payment method at the time of purchase.
At the moment this is not possible because the my.lugano.ch website does not allow authentication as a MyLugano card user. This is because the management and receipt of LVGAs requires a wallet (digital wallet) which is only available within the App. For the same reason, if you book from the website you will not be able to pay with LVGAs. We therefore advise you to download and use the App for your bookings in order to benefit from immediate cashback after payment.
Report the problem via the support form. We will check the problem and send you a confirmation e-mail if necessary.
MyLugano Card rates and offers vary depending on the facility. In the case of the Lido di Lugano, purchasing tickets for the Adult, AVS and Youth (14-20 years old) categories with MyLugano Card or MyLugano Pass entitles you to a discount with related cashback credited in the form of LVGA. Go to the account management section to find out how to create a Family Account.
The booking service is an online service and requires a valid e-mail address for delivery and confirmation of the booking.
Analogue cards
The old Lugano Cards in circulation are still valid and give access to a standard discount at participating shops. However, if you want to switch to the new digital version and start using LVGAs, you can do so at any time by downloading the App and digitising your card for free within the App. To see how to do this go to “Activate your account”.
No. However, you can switch to the digital version within the App free of charge or go to one of the counters of the City Info Points to request a new generation analogue card with the QR code with which you can access the LVGA.
The old Lugano Cards have been replaced by the new MyLugano Card. If you prefer to continue to have an analogue card, you can apply for an analogue MyLugano Card at one of our counters, which will give you access to discounts with LVGAs.
By contacting one of the following counters by telephone:
Divisione Eventi e Congressi Via Trevano 55, 6900 Lugano
Tel. +41 (0)58 866 6075 / 6065
Puntocittà Lugano Centro
Via della Posta 8
6900 Lugano
t. +41 58 866 60 00
lu, me e ve 7.30-12.00 e 13.30-17.00
ma e gio 7.30-18.00
Puntocittà Pambio-Noranco
Via Pian Scairolo 18a
6915 Lugano Pambio-Noranco
t. +41 58 866 64 60
lu-ve 7.30-12.00 e 13.30-17.00
Puntocittà Pregassona
Via Sala 13
6963 Lugano Pregassona
t. +41 58 866 65 11
lu-ve 7.30-12.00 e 13.30-17.00
You can download the MyLugano App and log in with the e-mail address you provided when purchasing the analogue card. You can use the analogue card to obtain discounts but not cashback. To access the App you will have to create a new password via the “retrieve password” button.
You can apply for a free digital MyLugano Card with the QR code by making an appointment at one of the City’s counters. For the use of LVGAs you will have to decide whether to use the analogue or the digital card.
You can request a duplicate free of charge by making an appointment at one of the City’s Counters and send an e-mail to the following address to block the card: my@lugano.ch
You can view the points balance on your analogue MyLugano Card by showing the QR code at one of the City’s Counters or at one of the partners during your purchase
You can make an appointment at one of the City’s Counters and a new card will be reprinted free of charge. Remember to bring your old card with you.
I own a business in Lugano
MyLugano is the innovative project implemented by the City of Lugano to support local commerce. The project consists in the creation of a loyalty circuit thanks to a real digital currency: the LVGA.
Similar to the loyalty programmes of large retailers, users of the MyLugano App with an active Card can obtain LVGAs in the form of cashback linked to their purchases, and subsequently redeem them for purchases within the circuit.
The principle adopted is that of cashback, which replaces the traditional discount. By purchasing at a participating shop, the user receives (starting from an expenditure of CHF 5.- ) a standard discount of 10% calculated on the amount of the purchase in the form of LVGAs. The difference with the standard discount is that LVGAs can only and exclusively be spent in Lugano. By accepting the LVGA discount you are therefore helping to keep more money in the city to the benefit of the whole local economy.
Both users and merchants use the MyLugano App to manage their balance and transactions.
All the advantages of MyLugano partners:
– Attract new customers: MyLugano allows your business to attract new customers by addressing a fast-growing community that already includes thousands of residents and non-residents who hold a MyLugano Card or MyLugano Pass.
– Accept LVGAs as a form of payment: Access the more than 300,000 CHF of LVGAs in the circuit and cash in LVGAs from participating cards. By offering the discount in the form of cashback, and not as a standard discount, you keep the money within the local economic circuit and thus actively contribute to its development and sustenance.
– Get noticed: By joining the circuit your business receives visibility within the MyLugano App and platforms and benefits from support and co-marketing activities for the promotion of your products and services on traditional and digital channels. By joining the circuit you contribute to creating a positive perception of your business in the eyes of the card-holding customer.
– Participate in the ongoing digital transformation process: MyLugano offers the opportunity to join a highly innovative loyalty circuit, based on a digital currency, which is still unique in Switzerland. The project provides practical support to small and medium-sized traders in the ongoing digital transformation process by providing a technologically advanced and user-friendly platform and constant, proximity-based support to partners.
– Zero cost: being a MyLugano Card partner is free of charge. The only condition for becoming a partner is to offer a discount to cardholders of 10% for holders of the MyLugano Card (resident card) and 5% for holders of the MyLugano Pass (non-resident card).
The prerequisites for becoming a MyLugano partner include the location of one’s operational headquarters and/or a point of supply of services within the municipal territory of Lugano. Any exceptions concerning businesses operating outside the municipal territory, but not in competition with local businesses, are assessed on a case-by-case basis. The merchant also agrees to grant LVGA cashback to all users registered to the App and adheres to good practices in order to contribute to the success of the initiative.
The partnership is of indefinite duration. Any partner wishing to terminate the partnership must notify the Divisione Eventi e Congressi in writing of the termination by writing to my@lugano.ch at the end of each month with 30 days’ notice. The same right of termination also falls to the municipality, which has no obligation to affiliate or maintain the affiliation over time.
Participation in the MyLugano circuit is free of charge. The merchant agrees to grant the discount in the form of LVGA. Use, training, support, marketing material for the shop, and visibility on all promotional channels are offered free of charge by the city.
There are no transaction costs for LVGA transactions.
