Louisiana – Lafayette’s mayor-president Joel Robideaux has proposed the development of a state-supported virtual currency, to be launched via Initial Coin Offering (ICO). As Robideaux outlined, the plan aims to position Lafayette as techno hub, diversify the local economy, as well as streamline the government’s financing services. In addition to the aforementioned venture, Robideaux has also committed to “build a living lab of blockchain researchers and developers,” to be funded by the profits generated from the proposed ICO.