Swiss Supermarket Rolls Out Lightning-Powered Bitcoin Payments

A supermarket in Zug, Switzerland, has begun accepting Bitcoin payments, adding to the country's expanding list of crypto-friendly retailers.

The local branch of global grocery chain Spar now allows customers to pay with Bitcoin via the Lightning Network—a faster, low-cost layer built on top of Bitcoin’s base chain.

The store has been listed on BTC Map, a crowdsourced platform that tracks merchants accepting BTC payments. The update was shared by DFX Swiss, a firm offering crypto-to-fiat payment tools, which noted that Spar in Zug is one of the first supermarkets in the country to support direct Bitcoin payments at checkout. Their OpenCryptoPay solution—an open-source standard for in-person crypto transactions—was used to make it happen.

Zug is no stranger to digital currencies. Often referred to as part of “Crypto Valley,” the city has long embraced blockchain innovation. Nearby Lugano also made headlines last year by allowing Bitcoin and Tether to be used for government-related payments, becoming one of the first cities globally to do so.

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So far, over 1,000 businesses in Switzerland have adopted Bitcoin payments, according to BTC Map.

The process for paying with Bitcoin at Spar is remarkably simple. Customers can scan a static QR code and complete their purchase in seconds using a Lightning-enabled wallet. According to Bitcoin Association Switzerland director Rahim Taghizadegan, it’s fast enough that it doesn’t disrupt the checkout process at all. He added that broader adoption across the country could follow if the solution sees enough usage in Zug.

Spar’s global presence makes the move significant. The retailer operates nearly 14,000 stores across 48 countries, serving more than 14 million shoppers daily and employing close to half a million people.

Alexander Stefanov