Spar, the international grocery retail giant, has officially launched a Bitcoin payment pilot at one of its stores in Zug, Switzerland. If successful, this could mark a significant milestone in the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency across the global retail sector.
Bitcoin Now Accepted at Checkout in Zug
The pilot was announced on April 17 by DFX Swiss, a crypto-to-cash infrastructure provider. In a LinkedIn post, the company revealed that Spar’s Zug location is now listed on BTC Map, a platform that tracks businesses around the world that accept Bitcoin payments. The integration uses a newly developed tool called OpenCryptoPay, enabling direct Lightning Network payments at checkout.
“This SPAR location is among the first supermarkets in Switzerland where you can pay directly at the checkout using Bitcoin (via LNURL),” DFX Swiss wrote.
Shoppers simply scan a QR code at the register to pay with BTC via the Lightning Network, making transactions fast, secure, and low-cost. A demonstration video shared by Rahim Taghizadegan, director of the Bitcoin Association Switzerland, showed just how seamless the process is for customers.
A Global Retail Giant Steps Into Crypto
With more than 13,900 stores across 48 countries, 14.7 million daily shoppers, and a global workforce of 450,000 employees, Spar’s move into Bitcoin payments could have far-reaching implications for both retail and crypto adoption.
If the Zug pilot proves effective, Spar could expand Bitcoin payment options nationwide in Switzerland or even internationally—a development that would represent a huge leap for real-world crypto utility.
Part of a Broader Retail Trend
Spar joins a growing list of major grocery and retail brands experimenting with Bitcoin payments:
- In the Netherlands, a Spar store in Arnhem began accepting BTC as early as 2014 as part of the city’s “Bitcoincity” initiative.
- In South Africa, Pick n Pay, one of the country’s largest supermarket chains, rolled out Bitcoin payments to 1,600+ locations in 2023 after a successful pilot. Customers now spend over $50,000/month in BTC, using the Lightning Network for quick and convenient payments.
- In the U.S., major chains like Whole Foods and Starbucks allow crypto payments through third-party apps like Spedn, which convert BTC to fiat at checkout.
Final Thoughts
Spar’s move signals growing confidence in Bitcoin as a viable payment method not just an investment asset. With established retailers taking concrete steps to accept BTC, cryptocurrency is moving ever closer to mainstream financial integration.
If Spar’s Zug experiment scales, it could inspire a wave of crypto payment adoption across everyday consumer experiences, reshaping how the world shops in the digital age.
