Swiss Post to launch Switzerland’s first crypto stamp
When purchasing a Swiss Crypto Stamp, customers don’t know which digital design is linked to it.
SwissPost/Gregor Forster
Swiss Post says it will “bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds in philately” on November 25, when it launches the “Swiss Crypto Stamp”, the first stamp of its kind in Switzerland.
The crypto stamp consists of two parts. While it is a physical stamp worth CHF8.90 ($9.50), every crypto stamp also has a related digital image. This digital image shows one of 13 possible designs, is stored in a blockchain and can be collected, exchanged and traded online.
Swiss Post said in a statementExternal link on Thursday that the launch will “bridge the gap between the physical world of stamps and the digital crypto-universe”.
“At first glance, the Swiss Crypto Stamp looks like any ordinary stamp. It is self-adhesive, shows the Matterhorn and the moon on a blue background, and has a face value of CHF8.90,” it said, pointing out that owners can use it to frank postal items just like any other stamp.
“But the actual crypto stamp is digital. Every physical Swiss Crypto Stamp provides access to a digital stamp stored in a blockchain.”
Digital twin
When purchasing a Swiss Crypto Stamp, customers don’t know which digital design is linked to it. Buyers only discover what the digital twin of their physical stamp looks like when they go online. This is accessed via a QR code printed next to the physical stamp, Swiss Post explained. By scanning this code, customers can view their digital crypto stamp online.
A total of 175,000 stamps will be issued, with 65,000 copies of the most common digital design but just 50 of the rarest.
The Swiss Crypto Stamp will be available from November 25 at selected Swiss Post branches. It can be ordered at all branches and online at www.postshop.chExternal link.
More
More
Switzerland makes its stamp on the world
This content was published on
Switzerland was the second country ever to introduce postage stamps. Early Swiss stamps are therefore some of the most valuable in the world.
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
Poll suggests Donald Trump has many fans in Switzerland
This content was published on
Around a quarter of Swiss citizens would vote for Donald Trump if they had the chance, according to a recent poll. This percentage is higher than in many other European countries.
Swiss court rejects special assistance for student with disabilities
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Court has rejected an application for special assistance from a student with disabilities at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich.
Police arrest 15 drug dealers in Verbier in southern Switzerland
This content was published on
Swiss and French police have arrested 15 suspected drug dealers operating in the mountain resort of Verbier in southern Switzerland.
New European space tech centre in Switzerland launches its first project
This content was published on
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), launched in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the PSI in northern Switzerland.
Swiss Federal Railways launches campaign for safety on public transport
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways is launching a campaign for greater respect and safety on public transport, with posters to go up in stations and on trains starting next week.
Swiss scientists to use AI for improved weather and climate forecasts
This content was published on
MeteoSwiss and the Swiss Data Science Center have signed a four-year agreement to make greater use of AI in meteorology and climatology going forward.
This content was published on
Prices of owner-occupied homes rose in the third quarter of 2024 by 0.5%, with inflation affecting both apartments and single-family houses, says the Federal Statistical Office.
This content was published on
The honey harvest is projected to be lower than usual this year, as Swiss beekeepers report harvesting an average of just 16kg of honey per bee colony.
More young refugees in Switzerland following vocational training
This content was published on
More than half of young refugees and temporarily admitted persons between the ages of 16 and 25 are now in training. This is significantly more than five years ago.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss Post unveils first stamp price hikes in 18 years
This content was published on
The new prices for priority and standard mail were set in cooperation with the country’s price watchdog and will go into effect in January 2022.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.