ADA Now Accepted at 137 SPAR Stores across Switzerland
Powering retail payments at Swiss supermarkets
ZUG, Switzerland, 5 March 2026 – The Cardano Foundation, the independent, Swiss- based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing Cardano as a public digital infrastructure, announces the integration of the Cardano blockchain into DFX.swiss's platform. This marks a significant step toward the real-world use of the Cardano token (ADA): for the first time, Cardano is seamlessly integrated into brick-and-mortar retail payments.
Paying with ADA at the Supermarket: Cardano Becomes Part of Open Crypto Pay
At the core of the integration is Open Crypto Pay, the crypto payment standard developed by DFX.swiss. Through the integration of Cardano, customers can now pay with the cryptocurrency ADA in 137 SPAR stores across Switzerland. Payments are processed in real time and without reliance on centralized exchanges. The payment function of Open Crypto Pay also allows ADA tokens from native ADA wallets to be used directly at the checkout for payment.
A key benefit for merchants lies in significantly lower transaction costs: compared to traditional card and payment providers, transaction fees can be reduced by around two thirds with Open Crypto Pay, placing them well below those of conventional payment solutions. This delivers not only technological innovation, but also clear economic value for retailers.
DFX.swiss On- and Off-Ramping as the Key to Fiat Integration
This everyday usability is enabled by DFX.swiss's expanded on- and off-ramp infrastructure. Users can buy or exchange ADA directly into fiat currencies via their DFX.swiss account – without additional intermediaries. In this way, DFX.swiss creates a direct bridge between the traditional banking system and the Cardano ecosystem, strengthening its practical adoption.
Seamless transition from Payments to Savings
Based on the technical infrastructure of dfx.swiss, the urble app from Swiss FinTech Brick Towers also implements a practical approach to digital wealth creation. urble addresses the everyday financial needs of investors and uses Cardano (ADA) specifically for long-term savings goals. urble enables users to create separate savings goals for children, partners, or godchildren. Through its integration with DFX.swiss and the option to also pay directly with ADA via the urble app, a closed ecosystem is created that efficiently bridges the gap between traditional fiat savings and the decentralized financial world.
A Shared Vision for Blockchain in Everyday Life
"We're witnessing the beginning of a fundamental shift in how value moves through society," says Frederik Gregaard, CEO of the Cardano Foundation. "When blockchain becomes invisible infrastructure – when paying with ADA is as natural as using a card – we've moved beyond the experimental phase into genuine financial transformation. This partnership is planting seeds for an ecosystem where digital and traditional finance aren't separate worlds, but one seamless experience."
"Working with the Cardano Foundation is a logical step in our strategy to bring blockchain-based financial solutions out of the niche and into everyday use," says Cyrill Thommen, CEO of DFX.swiss. "With Open Crypto Pay, we demonstrate that Cardano is not only technologically advanced, but also delivers real value in daily payments – for both consumers and merchants."
Quote Brick Towers: “Our goal with urble is to turn digital assets from speculative instruments into everyday tools,” says Ralph Hofacker, Co-CEO of Brick Towers. “The combination of regulated infrastructure and user-centric applications makes it possible to implement saving and payments based on Cardano in a simple way.”
With the integration of Cardano into Open Crypto Pay, DFX.swiss, Brick Towers and the Cardano Foundation are sending a strong signal for the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies – where it becomes most visible: at the supermarket checkout.