Bitcoin ATMs provide a quick and easy way to buy (and sometimes sell) Bitcoin from the high street. Here’s how to track one down.
Bitcoin is all about the digital economy and the cashless society. ATMs, therefore, should have no place in this virtual economy… right? Wrong, it turns out. Bitcoin ATMs are springing up all over the world, offering customers an easy way to buy Bitcoin on the high street.
What is a Bitcoin ATM?
Bitcoin ATMs look pretty much like any other ATM. The key difference is while regular ATMs dispense cash, Bitcoin ATMs let people trade Bitcoin (and sometimes other cryptocurrencies, too), right in the convenience store, the mall or the parking lot.
There are two types of Bitcoin ATMs: unidirectional and bidirectional ATMs. Unidirectional ATMs let you buy Bitcoin, either using cash or card. (Those accepting cash, therefore, do not require bank accounts, unlike normal ATMs.) Bidirectional Bitcoin ATMs let you sell your Bitcoin in exchange for cash.
#Cryptocurrency #ATM industry statistics for September 2020: 1082 installed, 159 closed, +923 (9.6%) net growth rate. More details: https://t.co/YBUwbKcWrz pic.twitter.com/oG9npixF16
— Coin 𝔸𝕋𝕄 Radar ₿
(@CoinATMRadar) October 3, 2020
(@CoinATMRadar) The first public Bitcoin ATM was opened on the 29th October, 2013 in Vancouver, Canada. There are over 15,000 Bitcoin ATMs globally, and over 13,000 of them are in the US—by far the most of any country.
Why use a Bitcoin ATM?
Some banks block cryptocurrency transactions, meaning that the only way for account holders to obtain Bitcoin is to use a Bitcoin ATM.
In the early days of Bitcoin ATMs, they could be used to buy Bitcoin anonymously. More recently, however, regulators have turned their attention to Bitcoin ATMs in a bid to combat money laundering. These days, Bitcoin ATMs in the United States (where the majority are located) are regulated by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), while in Canada, a recently-passed law obliges Bitcoin ATM operators to report all transactions above $10,000 Canadian dollars (about $7,400).
Nevertheless, for small purchases, Bitcoin ATMs can be a convenient way to obtain Bitcoin without having to go through the hassle of setting up an account at a crypto exchange.
Finally, they’re convenient: need some quick cash but only have Bitcoin to hand? Bitcoin ATMs, at your service!
How to use a Bitcoin ATM
To use an ATM, you’ll need a Bitcoin address, which for most people means obtaining a Bitcoin wallet. This could be a software wallet, a hardware wallet or even a paper wallet, depending on the level of security you require. Some ATMs will print out a paper wallet if you don’t have a wallet to hand. This paper wallet will have a private key on it, which you need to access your wallet.
To buy Bitcoin using an ATM, get the Bitcoin ATM to scan your wallet’s QR code. After this, enter how much fiat currency you’re going to put into the machine. Then, fill out any ID check (if there is one), which may involve sending a security code to your phone. Put in the security code to complete the transaction; the Bitcoin will usually end up in your wallet in ten minutes. To sell Bitcoin, do much the same, but hit “sell” instead of “buy.”
How to find Bitcoin ATMs
Websites
There are a number of different websites for finding a Bitcoin ATM. One of the leading options is CoinATMRadar, which works by inputting an address then generating a list of the nearest ATMs. It lists some of the fees of each ATM, as well as the cryptocurrencies that the ATM supports. The site also features reviews of ATMs, although a significant number have no review data.
Bitcoin.com has its own ATM radar. It’s powered by CoinATMRadar and it presents the results in a user-friendly map that lets you zoom in on different areas of the world to see how many Bitcoin ATMs are in each region. The site also tells you whether an ATM is open at all hours, and which crypto and fiat currencies it supports. o
Finally, atmcoiners.com has its own ATM map. This service is more limited since it only shows its own ATMs. However, you can use it to host your own Bitcoin ATM should you own one.
Mobile Apps
There are several mobile apps for locating Bitcoin ATMs, too. Perhaps the most popular is CoinATMRadar, which has over 100,000 downloads on the Google Play Store. You can share your location with the app to find the nearest ATM. It’s similar to the website: the app also details whether the ATM is uni or bi-directional, as well as supported cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies. It works well, although you have to download data for each individual country.
Bitmap is its main competitor. It has over 10,000 downloads on the Google Play Store, but Decrypt found it a lot buggier than CoinATMRadar. The app frequently broke, citing a bad Internet connection, even when the phone used was connected to the Internet. Bitcoin.com doesn’t let you search for Bitcoin ATMs in its app, so CoinATMRadar appears the better choice.
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