Bitcoin Payment Now Available at Spar Supermarket in Switzerland

A Spar supermarket in Zug, Switzerland has begun accepting Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network. The store's Bitcoin payment system went live recently as part of BTC Map, a community-driven project that shows businesses accepting Bitcoin payments.

DFX Swiss, a crypto-to-fiat payment solution company, announced the development in an April 17 LinkedIn post. The payment system uses their OpenCryptoPay solution, which is an open peer-to-peer standard for in-person cryptocurrency payments.

Switzerland has positioned itself as one of Europe's most cryptocurrency-friendly nations. According to BTC Map data, there are currently 1,013 stores and businesses across Switzerland that accept Bitcoin payments, showing growing adoption in the country.

This development coincides with BlackRock's recent expansion into European cryptocurrency markets. The world's largest asset manager launched its "iShares Bitcoin ETP" on exchanges in Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt, with Coinbase serving as custodian and Bank of New York Mellon as administrator.

In 2023, the Swiss city of Lugano became one of the world's first city administrations to adopt Bitcoin and Tether USDT payments for all municipal fees. This demonstrates Switzerland's progressive approach toward digital currency integration.

The payment process at the Zug Spar is straightforward, according to Rahim Taghizadegan, director of Bitcoin Association Switzerland. Customers simply scan a static QR code and send the required amount of Bitcoin. The cashier receives immediate confirmation of payment.

Taghizadegan noted, "If enough people use it, it may be rolled out in the whole country." He added that he used Phoenix Wallet for the Lightning Network transaction, but "pretty much anything works."

Spar's global presence includes over 13,900 stores across 48 countries, serving approximately 14.7 million shoppers daily and employing 450,000 people worldwide. This Bitcoin adoption by a major retail chain could increase mainstream trust in cryptocurrency payments.