Major Supermarket Chain Spar to Launch Bitcoin Payments Across Switzerland
Spar supermarkets in Switzerland are set to implement Bitcoin payments nationwide following a successful pilot program with DFX Swiss. The initial rollout began at Spar's Zug location, utilizing the Lightning Network and DFX Swiss’s OpenCryptoPay platform for in-person transactions. A second store in Kreuzlingen has also started accepting Bitcoin. This initiative positions Spar as one of the first major supermarket chains in Switzerland to accept direct Bitcoin payments. The payment process involves scanning a QR code and sending Bitcoin directly. Despite Switzerland's reputation as a crypto hub, opinions on Bitcoin's role in national reserves are mixed, with the Swiss National Bank deeming it too volatile for such purposes. A citizen-led initiative aims to amend the Swiss Constitution to require the central bank to hold Bitcoin alongside gold. Over 600 businesses in Switzerland now accept Bitcoin, reflecting a broader trend of real-world crypto integration.
