Spar supermarket in Zug, Switzerland has begun accepting Bitcoin for in-store purchases, signaling a major move for crypto adoption in everyday retail. This rollout, enabled via the Lightning Network and DFX Swiss’s OpenCryptoPay solution, allows customers to pay directly at checkout using a simple QR code.

Zug, a city often called “Crypto Valley,” is no stranger to blockchain innovation. With this launch, Spar becomes one of the first major supermarket chains in Switzerland to embrace Bitcoin payments, as highlighted by its listing on BTC Map—a platform that tracks businesses accepting BTC. DFX Swiss confirmed the development in an April 17 LinkedIn post, emphasizing that OpenCryptoPay makes peer-to-peer crypto transactions fast and frictionless.

Customers can now simply scan a static QR code and send Bitcoin using wallets like Phoenix, making the process both fast and user-friendly. Rahim Taghizadegan, director of Bitcoin Association Switzerland, praised the system for its ease of use and said if adoption grows, this could expand nationwide.

Switzerland remains a leader in crypto-friendly policy. In 2023, the city of Lugano allowed Bitcoin and Tether for municipal payments. As of now, BTCmap reports over 1,000 Swiss businesses already accept crypto payments.

Spar’s parent company operates more than 13,900 stores in 48 countries, serving 14.7 million customers daily. The growing use of Bitcoin in such large-scale retail outlets could reshape public trust and drive mainstream crypto adoption globally.

Crypto Valley, which includes blockchain giants like Ethereum, Cardano, and Casper, reached a staggering $593 billion valuation in early 2024—proof that Switzerland’s crypto ecosystem is thriving. With 17 unicorn companies in the region, the integration of BTC into daily transactions looks increasingly inevitable.