137 Spar Supermarkets in Switzerland Now Accept Cardano for Payments
Major retail chain Spar has integrated ADA cryptocurrency payment options across 137 locations throughout Switzerland, furthering the nation's aspirations to become a leading global cryptocurrency center.
The crypto-friendly reputation that Switzerland has been cultivating is receiving another retail validation point, as shoppers can now use Cardano's ADA cryptocurrency to make purchases at Spar grocery locations throughout the nation.
Following the most recent Open Crypto Pay integration developed by DFX.swiss, a Swiss financial technology company, customers holding Cardano (ADA) tokens can now complete their grocery shopping transactions at 137 Spar supermarket locations across Switzerland, the Cardano Foundation announced on Thursday.
The payment infrastructure has been built to handle transactions instantaneously and enables direct payments from ADA digital wallets, eliminating the need to channel funds through a centralized cryptocurrency exchange. The Open Crypto Pay platform delivers approximately two-thirds reduction in transaction fees for retail businesses when compared with conventional card payment methods, the announcement stated.
Frederik Gregaard, the CEO of the Swiss-based Cardano Foundation, characterized this advancement as the "beginning of a fundamental shift in how value moves through society," which marks the blockchain industry's transition from an experimental phase to "genuine financial transformation."
The initial rollout of cryptocurrency and stablecoin payment capabilities at Spar locations across Switzerland occurred in August 2025, when 100 stores began accepting digital currencies through Binance Pay and DFX.swiss, with the company's expansion roadmap targeting 300 stores at that time.
Tether, Lugano commit $6.4 million to global crypto hub ambitions
In a related development announced on Tuesday, Tether alongside the municipality of Lugano pledged 5 million Swiss francs ($6.4 million) toward a second phase of the city's Plan B initiative spanning 2026 through 2030, with the objective of establishing Lugano as a "global hub for digital asset infrastructure."
The city of Lugano has previously implemented policies enabling its residents to settle certain municipal fees using Bitcoin (BTC) and USDt (USDT) as component of a broader initiative to integrate digital assets into the local economic ecosystem.