{
  "id": 3046083,
  "title": "Lösung für Cyberangriffe oder technische Störungen: In der Schweiz kann man bald auch offline mit Karte bezahlen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/losung-fur-cyberangriffe-oder-technische-storungen-in-der-schweiz",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-24T15:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NZZ Wirtschaft",
    "slug": "nzz-wirtschaft",
    "url": "https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/sperrfrist-1700-uhr-loesung-fuer-cyberangriffe-oder-technische-stoerungen-in-der-schweiz-kann-man-bald-auch-offline-mit-karte-bezahlen-ld.10020742"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "The Swiss government and the National Bank have devised a solution to enable card payments even without an internet connection, particularly for essential goods such as food, medication, and fuel. This development comes as many Swiss citizens no longer carry cash when leaving their homes, relying on debit cards for everyday transactions. Since 2024, debit cards have become the most commonly used payment method in Switzerland, surpassing cash and mobile payment apps. While digital payments offer speed, convenience, and easy traceability, they also introduce vulnerabilities due to the potential for digital infrastructure failures, such as cyberattacks, technical glitches, or power outages. The risks associated with digital dependence are a concern for the government, leading to a search for a branch-level solution in collaboration with the Swiss National Bank (SNB) and private sector stakeholders including banks, payment service providers, and retailers.\n\nThe solution unveiled recently at a Bern press conference allows card payments to function offline, contingent upon the presence of a physical debit or credit card, a PIN entry at the reader, and a stable power supply. Contactless and mobile payments via smartphones or smartwatches will not work in offline mode. Foreign cards are also excluded. Consequently, it is advisable to carry a domestic, physical payment card at all times. The offline payment feature will automatically activate in the absence of a data connection, requiring users to input the PIN. For businesses, this comes with a risk since the bank cannot immediately verify if the account has sufficient funds; the transaction is only processed once the connection to the bank is restored and the stored transaction is cleared. The new offline payment function, primarily limited to essential goods, aims to mitigate the risk of payment failures, as suggested by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). The solution is voluntary, with the risk primarily carried by financial institutions, and is expected to be adopted gradually by the end of 2027, making Switzerland the first European country with widespread offline payment capabilities.",
  "summary": "Regierung und Nationalbank haben mit der Privatwirtschaft eine Lösung erarbeitet, wie man auch ohne Datenverbindung mit Karten zahlen kann. Möglich ist dies aber nur für lebensnotwendige Produkte wie Lebensmittel oder Medikamente.",
  "key_points": [
    "Swiss government and National Bank devise offline card payment solution",
    "Enables debit card payments without internet for essential goods",
    "Expected widespread adoption in Switzerland by end of 2027"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}