Avolta has launched a pilot enabling stablecoin payments at its Level 2 duty-free store at Zurich Airport.
From 9th to 25th September 2026, travellers can make purchases directly from their digital wallets through a QR-code payment process.
Settlement between customer and retailer
The pilot introduces a payment model in which transactions are settled directly between the customer and Avolta as the retailer. Neither traditional card networks nor intermediary payment providers are involved in the transaction. Funds are transferred within seconds using blockchain technology.
A different underlying principle
Yves Gerster, CFO of Avolta, said the consumer payment experience has evolved over decades while its underlying principle remained largely unchanged.
The pilot, he said, tests a fundamentally different approach based on direct value transfer between customer and retailer. According to Gerster, wallet-to-wallet payments have the potential to change payment infrastructure meaningfully, and the company is looking to learn from customers in a live retail environment.
Just one part of a larger agenda
Avolta positions the pilot as part of its broader innovation agenda, which examines how emerging technologies and solutions can enhance the traveller experience and shape the future of retail payments.
The solution was designed and developed by Avolta in collaboration with DevelopX.
