Spar Rolls Out Bitcoin Payments in Swiss Store, Adds Crypto Option at Checkout

Highlights:

• Spar in Zug now accepts Bitcoin payments using the Lightning Network and OpenCryptoPay at checkout.
• Over 1,000 businesses in Switzerland take Bitcoin, showing steady growth in real-world crypto adoption.
• Spar may expand Bitcoin payments to more countries if the current pilot program proves successful.

Spar, one of the world’s largest grocery chains, has launched Bitcoin payments at a store in Zug, Switzerland. Shoppers can now complete their purchases using cryptocurrency. The supermarket has integrated Bitcoin transactions through the Lightning Network. This network supports fast and low-cost transfers.

JUST IN: 🇨🇭 Spar supermarket now accepts Bitcoin payments in Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/8TiaEsyn5b

— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) April 18, 2025

DFX Swiss, the company behind the crypto-to-cash solution, confirmed the rollout in a LinkedIn post on April 17. The Zug location is now listed on BTC Map. This platform tracks businesses around the world that accept Bitcoin.

According to DFX Swiss, customers can pay directly at the checkout using Bitcoin. The system works with OpenCryptoPay, a new tool that enables person-to-person crypto payments. It uses LNURL, which helps simplify Bitcoin transactions in physical stores. This setup is among the first of its kind in Swiss supermarkets.

The store joins over a thousand other businesses in Switzerland that already support Bitcoin payments. Switzerland continues to make steady progress in using cryptocurrency for everyday needs. Zug has remained a leading city for crypto activity. Previously, the city of Lugano allowed Bitcoin and Tether payments for public services. The move made it one of the first cities in the world to do so. As a result, more cities and businesses have started exploring digital currency use.

New Setup Offers Fast and Simple Bitcoin Payments for Shoppers

At checkout, customers scan a QR code to pay. This code links directly to the Lightning Network, which allows for quick and smooth transactions. Rahim Taghizadegan, director of the Bitcoin Association Switzerland, shared a video of this process on LinkedIn. He used the Phoenix Wallet to complete his purchase. This wallet works with the Lightning Network and makes it easy to send small amounts of Bitcoin.

The system is simple to use, as customers do not need to sign up or enter any extra information. The cashier receives payment confirmation right away. This process reduces delays and confusion that some people experience with crypto.

According to Taghizadegan, other wallets also work with the system. This gives users more flexibility when choosing how to pay. If more people use the Bitcoin option, Spar could expand it to other stores. The move would make Bitcoin more common in everyday shopping. BTC Map data shows that more than 1,000 businesses in Switzerland now accept Bitcoin. This number continues to grow, and it shows that more people are using crypto in real-world settings.

Spar’s Global Presence Raises Possibility of Wider Bitcoin Integration

Spar operates over 13,900 stores in 48 countries. It serves more than 14.7 million shoppers each day. The company also has 450,000 employees around the world. Because of its large reach, a wider rollout of Bitcoin payments could follow if the Zug test is successful.

This is not the first time Spar has explored Bitcoin payments, as a store in Arnhem, Netherlands, started accepting BTC in 2014 as part of the “Bitcoincity” project. Other retail chains have also tested or implemented crypto payments, including South Africa’s Pick n Pay. The store rolled out BTC acceptance across its stores after a successful pilot phase. In the United States, chains like Whole Foods and Starbucks have accepted crypto through third-party apps that convert Bitcoin to local currency during checkout.