Atupri Health Insurance, an insurance company based in Switzerland, announced that its 200,000 clients will from now on be able to order payments in Bitcoin and Ethereum. The firm, which boasts 120 years of history, claims to be the first insurance company in Switzerland to accept cryptocurrencies.
Atupri said in a statement that payments will be made through local cryptocurrency company Bitcoin Suisse. The insurer itself will not deal with cryptocurrencies, only converted fiat money will be transferred to the account, which will be transferred by Bitcoin Suisse.
Atupri was founded in 1910 and is one of the largest providers of health insurance services in Central Europe. The company’s sales in 2019 accounted for around $885 million.
“Being digital pioneers in the Swiss healthcare sector, we predict social and economic trends and provide for insurance solutions with lasting prospects. The blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies are becoming more and more important,” stated Caroline Meli, who is leading the Marketing department at Atupri.
On the other side. Armin Schmid, head of Bitcoin Suisse crypto payments, praised the prospects for partnership with insurers:
“We are very happy to partner with Atupri and provide completely safe and easy to navigate payment options that work with cryptocurrencies.”
Among other services, Bitcoin Suisse trades digital assets for its clients. It also provides the so-called cryptocurrency custodial services – storage of digital wallets and digital money.
In May, Bitcoin Suisse added gold, silver, and platinum to its options, allowing clients to trade the precious metals paired with Bitcoin and Ethereum, and five major fiat currencies.
Switzerland takes a progressive position in relation to cryptocurrencies. The country has legalized its use and developed a clear regulatory framework. The country views digital money and the blockchain-based technologies as strategically important innovations in the global financial system.
