Cardano Expands to Swiss Grocery Stores with Open Crypto Pay
Cardano's $ADA token is now accepted as a payment method at 137 Spar supermarkets across Switzerland and Liechtenstein. This integration is made possible through a partnership between the Cardano network and Swiss fintech firm DFX.swiss, which developed the Open Crypto Pay standard for processing crypto transactions. Open Crypto Pay already supports payments in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins like USDC, USDT, and DAI. The addition of Cardano expands this retail payments infrastructure.
Customers can pay by scanning a QR code at checkout using a compatible Cardano wallet. Transactions are processed in real time without going through a centralized exchange. Merchants receive payment in Swiss francs, regardless of the cryptocurrency used. DFX.swiss claims that Open Crypto Pay reduces transaction costs for merchants by roughly two-thirds compared to traditional card payments.
Frederik Gregaard, CEO of the Cardano Foundation, described the integration as the "beginning of a fundamental shift in how value moves through society." He noted that the partnership lays the groundwork for a financial ecosystem where "paying with Cardano is as natural as paying with a card." The rollout includes stores in various Swiss cities, though Geneva, Bern, and Davos are not yet part of the network.
Switzerland is known for early crypto adoption, with the city of Lugano reporting over 350 businesses accepting Bitcoin as of December 2025. However, the Swiss National Bank remains cautious. Chairman Martin Schlegel rejected calls to add Bitcoin to the central bank's reserves in April 2025, citing volatility and liquidity concerns.