Spar Supermarket in Switzerland Begins Accepting Bitcoin Payments via Lightning Network

Spar Supermarket in Zug, Switzerland, Now Accepts Bitcoin Payments

In a significant move for crypto adoption in everyday commerce, Spar, one of the world’s largest supermarket chains, has launched Bitcoin payments at a location in Zug, Switzerland. The payment option is powered by the Lightning Network, offering customers fast, low-cost transactions directly at checkout.

Spar in Zug adopts Bitcoin payment, announcement. Source: DFX Swiss

The Bitcoin payment rollout was revealed by DFX Swiss, a crypto-to-fiat payment solutions provider, in an April 17 LinkedIn post. According to DFX, the Zug-based Spar store is among the first supermarkets in the country to offer direct Bitcoin payments at the point of sale, using their OpenCryptoPay system—a peer-to-peer, open standard for in-person crypto transactions.

“This SPAR location is among the first supermarkets in Switzerland where you can pay directly at the checkout using Bitcoin (via LNURL),” said DFX Swiss.

Businesses accepting Bitcoin payment in Switzerland, Europe. Source: BTCmap

Zug Strengthens Its Status as Switzerland’s Crypto Capital

Zug, already known as “Crypto Valley” due to its early embrace of blockchain technology, continues to lead the charge in cryptocurrency adoption. The Spar implementation joins a growing list of local businesses in the region accepting Bitcoin, with BTCmap data indicating that over 1,000 businesses in Switzerland now accept crypto payments.

The adoption of Bitcoin by a global grocery chain like Spar—known for operating over 13,900 stores across 48 countries—marks a significant step forward for mainstream crypto usage. The brand serves more than 14.7 million shoppers daily, supported by a workforce of 450,000 employees worldwide.

Bitcoin payment in Spar, Zug, Switzerland. Source: Rahim Taghizadegan

Bitcoin Payments Made Simple: Scan and Pay

Ease of use has been a long-standing barrier to broader crypto adoption. However, Spar’s implementation is intentionally frictionless. Payments are made by simply scanning a static QR code at checkout using a Bitcoin wallet compatible with the Lightning Network.

Rahim Taghizadegan, a university lecturer and director of the Bitcoin Association Switzerland, described the user experience in a LinkedIn post on April 16:

“Just scan a static QR code, send sats, immediate and easy registration by the cashier. If enough people use it, it may be rolled out in the whole country.”

Crypto Valley Unicorns. Source: CvVc.com

Taghizadegan noted he used Phoenix Wallet, but emphasized that most Lightning wallets are compatible with the system.

Switzerland's Growing Crypto Ecosystem

Switzerland continues to solidify its position as a global crypto hub. In early 2023, the city of Lugano adopted both Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDT) for all municipal payments. By 2024, the Swiss blockchain ecosystem—often referred to as Crypto Valley—surpassed a $593 billion valuation, according to a report.

Of the 50 top blockchain entities based in Switzerland, 17 have achieved unicorn status with valuations exceeding $1 billion. Notable projects that emerged from the Swiss crypto scene include Ethereum, Cardano, and Casper.

Top 50 projects in Crypto Valley. Source: CvVc.com

Mathias Ruch, CEO of CV VC, commented on the ecosystem's progress:

“A Swiss industry where the Top 50 entities share a valuation of $593 billion and whose funding medians exceed global medians reflects vision and resilience.”

Conclusion

Spar’s introduction of Bitcoin payments in Zug is more than a local experiment—it’s a potential model for global retail adoption of cryptocurrency. By enabling fast, user-friendly transactions through the Lightning Network, this move could pave the way for broader implementation across Switzerland and beyond. As crypto infrastructure and regulation mature, everyday use cases like this are expected to become increasingly common in the digital economy.