Spar to Launch Bitcoin Payments Across Switzerland
Spar supermarkets across Switzerland are preparing to launch Bitcoin payments following successful pilots at two locations.
Backed by crypto payment provider DFX Swiss, the initiative allows customers to pay with Bitcoin over the Lightning Network using OpenCryptoPay, a peer-to-peer platform designed for seamless face-to-face transactions.
Spar’s Zug store first tested the system at the beginning of this month, and the second store in Kreuzlingen joined in shortly afterwards.
“Zug was just a prototype store, we will soon expand it to all of Switzerland,” OpenCryptoPay said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
The expansion makes Spar one of the first major supermarket chains in Switzerland to integrate direct Bitcoin payments at scale. BTC Map, a community-generated directory of businesses that accept cryptocurrencies, has listed participating Spar stores.
“Scan a fixed QR code, send sats, instant and easy registration by the cashier,” said Rahim Taghizadegan, director of the Bitcoin Association Switzerland, after testing the payment experience.
The move reflects the growing trend of cryptocurrency adoption in Switzerland, amid national debate over the role of Bitcoin in the country’s financial system.
At the recent annual shareholders meeting of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), President Martin Schlegel reiterated that Bitcoin is too volatile to be considered for Switzerland’s official currency reserves.
Meanwhile, a citizen-led initiative aims to amend the Swiss Constitution to require the Swiss National Bank to hold Bitcoin alongside gold. If the initiative gathers 100,000 signatures, the proposal could be put to a national referendum.
With Spar’s move, Switzerland’s growing reputation as a “crypto nation” is gaining even more momentum. According to BTC Map data, more than 600 businesses across the country accept Bitcoin. Municipalities like Zug and Lugano are leading the way by accepting Bitcoin and stablecoins for public services since 2020 and 2022, respectively.
*This is not investment advice.
