- SPAR is piloting Bitcoin and Lightning Network payments in a grocery branch located in Zug, Switzerland.
- The pilot comes at a time of increased interest in cryptocurrencies in Switzerland, particularly in younger demographics.
- SPAR operates 13,900 stores in 48 countries, making this one of the largest crypto payment tests by a global retailer.
SPAR is a worldwide grocery store with over 13,900 stores in 48 countries worldwide. In a recent development, SPAR has begun a pilot project to implement Bitcoin and Lightning Digital Payment Network payments in a branch located in Zug. Zug is a town known for blockchain development and houses what some call “Crypto Valley.”
This initiative was unveiled after a LinkedIn user shared a post about an update of a SPAR store accepting Bitcoin. This marks a significant trial for crypto payments by a major retail player.
Zug Store Begins Accepting Bitcoin
Zug is home to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s former place of work. This has promoted it as one of the areas innovative in terms of blockchain technology. Zug is a town known to be funded for early-stage crypto projects. Previously, it has allowed its residents to settle public service charge fees via Bitcoin.
For now, SPAR’s trial seems to be restricted to just one store in Zug. The use of Bitcoin’s Lightning Network suggests that the retailer is testing whether crypto payments can be viable in a high-volume and low-margin retail environment such as a grocery store.
Switzerland’s Crypto Adoption Is Growing
Looking at a survey published at the start of this year, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) reported an easily noticeable growth in the number of citizens who own cryptos and stablecoins. According to the central bank, crypto ownership rose from 6% in 2022 to 10% in 2024. That’s 4% in 2 years, and the highest adoption was found in the age group between 15 and 34 years.
To arrive at these findings, the SNB surveyed over 2,100 individuals across Switzerland. However, Martin Schlegel, who is the central bank’s president, stated in March that Bitcoin is too volatile and illiquid to be considered for inclusion in the bank’s official reserves.
Just a few days later, former U.S President Donald Trump called for a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the United States. The contrast between official policy stances and growing public adoption shows the evolving role of cryptos in both the public and private sectors. As governments stay calm and watch, retailers like SPAR are moving ahead with real-world tests.
A Major Pilot in the Retail Sector
SPAR accepting Bitcoin as payment at its stores is one of the largest pilot use cases of the Lightning Network payments in the retail grocery sector. Unlike smaller merchants across Europe that have been accepting cryptocurrency for years, having a corporation with almost 14,000 outlets globally accepting Bitcoin marks a new era of retail experimentation.
Currently, it is still unclear whether the pilot will be expanded beyond the Zug store or into other regions in Switzerland or Europe. An official public statement has not been released yet. Also, PAR has not issued a detailed timeline regarding the potential rollout of crypto payments across its network.
