KEY FACTS: A Spar supermarket in Zug, Switzerland, has launched a pilot program accepting Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network. The initiative, facilitated by DFX Swiss’s OpenCryptoPay solution, allows customers to pay for groceries instantly using Bitcoin at the checkout, leveraging Zug’s status as the heart of Switzerland’s “Crypto Valley.” As one of the first supermarkets in Switzerland to adopt this technology, Spar’s trial in its network of over 13,900 stores globally could pave the way for wider crypto adoption, with the Lightning Network enabling fast, low-cost transactions.
Spar in Zug adopts Bitcoin payment, announcement. Source: DFX Swiss
Spar Supermarket in Switzerland Pioneers Bitcoin Payments via Lightning Network
A Spar supermarket in Zug, Switzerland, has begun accepting Bitcoin (BTC) payments through the Bitcoin Lightning Network. The supermarket announced this significant step toward integrating digital currencies into everyday retail transactions through a post on LinkedIn on April 17, 2025. This pilot program, implemented at one of the global retail giant’s stores in the heart of Switzerland’s “Crypto Valley,” could signal a new era for crypto payments, with potential implications for Spar’s expansive network of over 13,900 stores across 48 countries. The initiative leverages cutting-edge technology to enable fast, low-cost, and seamless Bitcoin transactions at the point of sale.
We're excited to share that the SPAR Switzerland store in Zug, Bahnhofstrasse 10, is now live on #BTCMap!
BTC Map is a community-driven project that highlights places around the world where Bitcoin is accepted – and now, the SPAR store in Zug is one of them!
Step by step, we're making everyday crypto payments a reality.
Source
Spar, a European retail powerhouse with more than six decades of operation and a daily customer base exceeding 14 million, has partnered with DFX Swiss, a Swiss-based company specializing in cryptocurrency payment solutions, to roll out this innovative payment system. The Zug store’s adoption of Bitcoin payments is facilitated by DFX’s OpenCryptoPay solution, an open peer-to-peer (P2P) standard designed for in-person crypto transactions. Customers can now pay for groceries by scanning a static QR code at the checkout, with transactions processed instantly via the Lightning Network, a second-layer scaling solution for the Bitcoin blockchain. DFX Swiss added in the statement:
“This SPAR location is among the first supermarkets in Switzerland where you can pay directly at the checkout using Bitcoin (via LNURL), thanks to our new #OpenCryptoPay solution – an open P2P standard for in-person crypto payments.”
The implementation has been hailed as a landmark achievement, with Rahim Taghizadegan, director of the Bitcoin Association Switzerland, sharing a video on LinkedIn demonstrating the ease of the process: customers scan a QR code, send Bitcoin “sats” (the smallest unit of Bitcoin), and the cashier registers the payment immediately. The pilot program comes at a time when cryptocurrency is gaining traction as a viable payment method worldwide. Switzerland, known for its progressive stance on blockchain technology, is home to over 1,013 businesses that accept Bitcoin, according to BTCmap. The Spar initiative adds to this growing list, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a global leader in crypto adoption.
Businesses accepting Bitcoin payment in Switzerland, Europe. Source: BTCmap
The choice of Zug for this pilot is no coincidence. Often referred to as “Crypto Valley,” Zug is a hub for blockchain innovation, hosting major projects like Ethereum, Cardano, and the Casper blockchain. The city has long embraced cryptocurrency, with initiatives dating back to 2013 when BTC Suisse began facilitating Bitcoin payments in the region. Zug’s local government has even allowed residents to pay taxes in Bitcoin, and the city is home to numerous blockchain companies driving advancements in Web3 technologies.
This crypto-friendly environment provides Spar with an ideal testing ground, where an active and aware crypto community can provide immediate feedback on the payment system’s performance. If successful, the pilot could pave the way for broader adoption across Switzerland and potentially Spar’s global network.
At the core of Spar’s Bitcoin payment system is the Lightning Network, a layer-2 solution designed to address Bitcoin’s scalability challenges. Unlike the Bitcoin mainchain, which processes transactions slowly (approximately 7 transactions per second) and can incur high fees during peak times, the Lightning Network enables near-instantaneous transactions with fees often less than one cent. This makes it ideal for micropayments and everyday purchases, such as groceries at a supermarket.
The Lightning Network operates by establishing off-chain bilateral channels, allowing users to conduct transactions without recording every interaction on the Bitcoin blockchain. Only the final settlement is recorded on-chain, reducing congestion and costs. According to Forbes, the Lightning Network can theoretically handle millions of transactions per second, limited only by users’ network connections and the capacity of Lightning nodes.
This technology has already proven successful in other regions. For example, in April 2023, South Africa’s Pick n Pay supermarket chain rolled out Bitcoin payments across its 1,600+ stores following a successful pilot, with customers reportedly spending over $50,000 in Bitcoin monthly. Spar’s implementation in Zug follows a similar model, leveraging the Lightning Network to make crypto payments as seamless as traditional card or cash transactions.
Spar’s decision to test Bitcoin payments represents one of the most extensive trials of cryptocurrency payments by a major retail chain. With 13,900 stores worldwide, Spar serves a massive customer base and operates in diverse markets across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. A successful pilot in Zug could lead to a broader rollout, potentially transforming how consumers interact with digital currencies in retail settings.
Analysts suggest that Spar’s experiment will generate valuable data on customer adoption, transaction efficiency, and operational challenges. If the results are positive, the project could be extended to other stores, paving the way for a new era of payments in supermarkets. Despite the regulatory hurdles expected, Spar’s pilot program is a bold step forward. The retailer is positioning itself at the forefront of a potential payments revolution by leveraging Zug’s crypto-friendly ecosystem and the Lightning Network’s advanced infrastructure.
The Spar supermarket in Zug, Switzerland, has taken a bold leap into the future of payments by accepting Bitcoin via the Lightning Network. As one of the first supermarkets in the country to offer direct crypto payments at checkout, Spar is not only testing the waters for digital currencies but also setting a precedent for the global retail industry. With Switzerland’s Crypto Valley as its backdrop, the pilot program has the potential to reshape how consumers and businesses perceive and use cryptocurrencies.
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