How to buy crypto in cash in Switzerland at SBB machines
Use our service to buy Bitcoin and 30+ other cryptocurrencies 24/7 in cash in Switzerland, with low fees at any SBB train ticket vending machine.
5 minutes|Yann Gerardi|Published 2023-11-16|
Introduction
Switzerland is famous for being one of the most crypto-friendly countries in the world. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) can be credited in the building of this reputation, thanks to their introduction in 2016 of the possibility to buy Bitcoin at any of their ticket vending machines. That news made the headlines back then, and put Switzerland in the spotlight of the Bitcoin universe.
The great advantage of that offer is the vast network of SBB machines, which allows anyone to buy Bitcoin in cash at more than 1,000 machines located in more than 700 train stations across the country.
However, it has several limitations. First, SBB's own Bitcoin offer is quite expensive: a buyer will pay at least 6% of fees, which can go up to 14% depending on the amount. Then, it is limited to Swiss people as a Swiss phone number is required to use the service. Lastly, it generates a paper wallet with cryptos stored on it. It cannot be used as such, it must first be restored in another wallet app (like Bridge Wallet) in order to make transactions with its content.
As an alternative, our service allows to enjoy the large network of SBB ticket machines to buy crypto in cash 24/7 while paying much lower fees, between 0% and 1.3% at most. With it, you can also buy crypto and receive your funds directly on any self-custodial wallet, there is no extra step required to access your crypto. Finally, it is available to users with any phone numbers, not only Swiss ones.
This is possible as our exchange service lets you generate a Swiss QR-bill when buying crypto, which can then be scanned and paid in cash at any SBB/CFF ticket vending machine.
Please note that the machine will take a small processing fee to pay a QR-bill: 1.25% of the invoice amount with a minimum of CHF 2.50 and a maximum of CHF 5.00.
With our solution, you can buy crypto up to CHF 999 per 30 days without having to verify your identity. You can of course remove this limit by verifying your identity. The machines also have a limit of CHF 600 per QR-bill payment, so you will have to split your purchase in two if you plan to buy more than that. Also good to know, SBB machines accept cash payments in euro.
With 24/7 availability at 1,000+ locations, and service fees from 3 to 10 times cheaper that crypto ATMs, this is the ultimate solution for anyone wishing to convert cash to crypto!
Comparison
The table below shows a detailed comparison between buying cryptocurrencies directly via SBB's own offering and via Mt Pelerin's service:
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Service fee | 0% - 1.3% | 6% - 14% |
| QR-bill fee | CHF 2.5 - CHF 5 | None |
| ID verification | Not required up to CHF 999 per 30 days | Not required up to CHF 999 per 30 days |
| Min. buy | None | CHF 20 |
| Max. buy | CHF 600 per QR-bill | CHF 500 per day |
| Swiss phone number required | No | Yes |
| Crypto available | BTC, ETH and 28 more | BTC, ETH |
| Receiving address | Any self-custodial wallet | Newly created paper wallet |
| Accepted cash currencies | CHF, EUR | CHF |
Tutorial
We show you below each step to buy Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies with us at any SBB train ticket vending machine:
1. Go to our web or mobile app
If you don't have a crypto wallet yet, download our mobile wallet here, install it and follow instructions to create a new wallet.
If you already have a crypto wallet and want to buy crypto in cash directly on it, use our web app here.
2. Choose your purchase
Select CHF as the purchase currency, choose the crypto you want to buy, and the blockchain on which you'd like to receive it (if available). Then, click the "Buy" button to continue.
If you use our mobile app, you will first need to select the blockchain on which you'd like to buy crypto, then click the "Buy" button in the quick access menu of the app.
3. Register or login
All you need to register is an email address and one of these authentication methods:
- SMS: you will need to provide a phone number and confirm it with an SMS code.
- Wallet signature: Only available when using our mobile wallet app.
If you already have a profile with us, login with one of the methods available to continue. For this example, we choose the SMS option:
4. Choose your receiving address
Choose one of the available options to connect a wallet and choose the address on which you will receive your crypto. See here for a detailed tutorial. If you already have a profile with us, you will be able to choose one of the wallet addresses that are linked to your profile, or add a new one:
5. Generate a Swiss QR-bill
Once you reach the step that shows our bank account coordinates, ignore them and scroll at the bottom to find the "Swiss QR-bill" button.
Click on it to generate the PDF invoice that you will need to scan at a SBB machine.
6. Find an SBB machine
Go to any Swiss train ticket vending machine. You will find a map of all the SBB machine locations here.
7. Tap the welcome screen
Tap the welcome screen of the machine to launch its menu.
8. Choose "Prepaid / Money transfers"
At the bottom of the main screen, find the "Prepaid / Money transfers" button and tap on it.
9. Choose "Pay"
Once in the "Prepaid / Money transfers" section, choose the "Pay" option (and not the "Bitcoin Paper Wallet" one).
10. Choose "QR-bill"
Next, choose to pay a Swiss QR-bill.
11. Accept the terms and conditions
Tap on "Accept" to pass the terms of use.
12. Scan your QR-bill
Follow the instructions to place your QR-bill in front of the machine's QR code reader below the touchscreen, until it reads your code.
If the reader struggles to read the QR code on your phone's screen, you may need to print it and try again with a paper version of your QR-bill.
13. Transaction summary
Once the machine will have read your QR-bill, you will see this screen that summarizes your transaction before proceeding to the payment.
14. Pay your QR-bill
Pay the total amount shown on the screen by inserting CHF or EUR banknotes in the machine. Once done, the machine will print a receipt for your payment.
You will then receive an email from us as soon as we will have received the payment (usually the morning of the next business day), and another email shortly after as soon as your crypto will have been sent to your destination wallet.
FAQ
What's the difference between Mt Pelerin and SBB's own Bitcoin Paper Wallet service?
SBB offers two different ways to buy crypto at the same machines. Their own "Bitcoin Paper Wallet" option lets you buy BTC or ETH directly, but it requires a Swiss mobile phone number for verification, charges 6% to 14% in fees, and generates a paper wallet that must later be restored into another wallet app before you can use your funds. Mt Pelerin's service leverages the Swiss QR-bill scan and payment feature of the same machines to buy 30+ cryptocurrencies, with fees ranging 0% to 1.3% plus a small QR-bill processing fee. It works with any phone number, and sends your crypto directly to the self-custodial wallet of your choice, with no paper wallet step in between.
Do I need a Swiss phone number to buy crypto at SBB machines?
No. A Swiss phone number is only required for SBB's own "Bitcoin Paper Wallet" option, which verifies each purchase by SMS code sent to a Swiss mobile number. With Mt Pelerin, you only need an email address to register, plus either a phone number from any country for SMS verification, or your mobile wallet's own signature if you use our app. Either way, no Swiss number is required with Mt Pelerin.
Is Mt Pelerin regulated?
Yes, Mt Pelerin is regulated in Switzerland since 2019 as a financial intermediary, which is the authorization to provide brokerage and financial services in the country. Mt Pelerin is affiliated to SO-FIT, a self-regulatory organization (SRO) under the Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act, officially recognized and supervised by FINMA, the Swiss financial market supervisory authority. SO-FIT audits each year the compliance of Mt Pelerin's activities.
Who can buy crypto in cash with Mt Pelerin?
The only users that Mt Pelerin cannot accept are US persons and residents in the following countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mainland China (Hong Kong and Taiwan accepted), Mali, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Is there a minimum to buy crypto in cash?
No, there is no minimum amount required to buy cryptocurrency in cash with Mt Pelerin.
Is there a maximum to buy crypto in cash?
There is a maximum of CHF 600 per QR-bill that can be paid at a Swiss train ticket machine. You can of course generate as many QR-bills as you want and pay them in multiple times. There is no maximum total amount that you can buy with Mt Pelerin once you have verified your identity, otherwise the limit is at CHF 999 per period of 30 days.
How long does it take to receive my crypto after payment?
We deliver your crypto on your wallet shortly after we receive your payment. We do so as fast as possible on a best effort basis and it usually takes from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on various factors (liquidity, network congestion, etc.). Deliveries are processed automatically most of the time, but can be held for manual review by our compliance team. In such cases, manual reviews are done during office hours from Monday to Friday.
How is the exchange rate applied?
The exchange rate applied is the best market rate that we can obtain at the moment when we receive your payment, unless your purchase requires extra compliance steps. In such case, the exchange rate is applied when those steps have been completed.
Do I need a wallet before buying?
Yes, but if you don't have one yet you can download our mobile app Bridge Wallet.
Can I buy crypto in cash without fees?
With Mt Pelerin you can buy up to CHF 500 worth of crypto each year (or CHF 1,000 if you have been referred by another user) with zero exchange fees.
The only fee that you will pay is the QR-bill payment service fee charged by the SBB machine, which goes from CHF 2.50 to CHF 5.00 max.
What are the fees to buy crypto in cash?
The fee to buy crypto in cash with Mt Pelerin ranges from 0% to 1.3%, depending on your cumulated volume per year.
Are there hidden fees or spreads?
No, Mt Pelerin's only source of revenue is the exchange commission that it charges on currency conversions, which is fully displayed before each transaction. Mt Pelerin doesn't artificially inflate the exchange rates applied when buying Bitcoin.
Is there a cost to buy crypto on an external wallet?
No, it's free! We deliver your crypto on any of your existing wallets free of charge.
Which fiat currencies are supported to buy crypto in cash?
You can pay your Swiss QR-bill at the train ticket machine by inserting CHF or EUR banknotes. Please note that QR-bill itself is labeled in CHF, so if you pay with euros the machine's EUR to CHF exchange rate will apply.
