Key Takeaways
- What is a Bitcoin ATM? A Bitcoin ATM, also called a crypto ATM, is a machine that lets you swap cash for cryptocurrency, and some machines also swap crypto back into cash. It is not a bank ATM and it does not take money out of a bank account.
- To use one, you choose a coin, scan a QR code that holds your crypto wallet address, insert cash, and the machine sends the crypto to that address after taking its fee.
- Fees are set by each operator (the company that owns and runs the machine) so remember to check the total cost on the screen before you pay.
- Scammers often send victims to these machines, and the money is very hard to get back once it is sent.
Bitcoin ATM at a Glance
Item |
Detail |
|---|---|
What it is |
A machine that swaps cash for cryptocurrency (and on some machines the reverse) |
Also called |
Crypto ATM, Bitcoin ATM, BTM or convertible virtual currency kiosk |
What you need |
Cash, a crypto wallet address (often a QR code) and, in many places, ID and a phone number |
Cost |
Set by the operator: a visible fee, a margin built into the price, or both |
Limits |
Set by the operator and by local law, often lower for new customers |
Speed |
Varies by operator and network; crypto arrives after the network confirms the transfer |
Main risk |
Scams that send people and their cash to a machine, and payments that are hard to reverse |
Rules |
Differ by country and US state; as of November 13, 2026, four US states ban operation of the machines statewide |
What Is a Bitcoin ATM?
A Bitcoin ATM is a machine that lets you swap cash for Bitcoin, Ethereum or another cryptocurrency, and some machines let you swap the other way around. The US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) calls them convertible virtual currency kiosks: ATM-like devices that exchange real currency for virtual currency and vice versa.
In plain terms, a Bitcoin ATM is a cash-to-crypto machine, not a normal bank ATM. A bank ATM gives you access to money held in your bank account, while a crypto ATM sells you crypto for the cash you insert and sends it to a wallet. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says many of these machines handle coins other than Bitcoin.
How Do Crypto ATMs Work? A Step-by-Step Guide
A crypto ATM takes your cash and sends the matching amount of crypto, minus fees, to a wallet address you provide. A crypto wallet is an app or device that holds your crypto, and its address works like an account number. The steps below are typical, and screens differ by operator and place.
- Choose a coin. Pick the cryptocurrency you want, such as Bitcoin.
- Verify yourself if asked. Many machines ask for a phone number, and some ask for a photo ID. This is called KYC (“know your customer”), or an identity check.
- Scan your wallet QR code. A QR code is a square barcode, and your wallet app can show your address as one. Scan your own code, and double-check the address on the screen to be sure it is yours.
- Insert cash and check the total. The screen should show the amount of crypto you will get and the fee for brokering the transaction. Do not confirm if the numbers look wrong.
- Wait for the transfer. The machine submits the transfer, and the blockchain, the shared public record of crypto transfers, then confirms it. How long this takes varies by operator and network, as crypto does not always arrive instantly.
How a crypto ATM works, in five steps: choose a coin, verify your identity if asked (KYC), scan your wallet QR code, insert cash, and the crypto is sent to your wallet after the network confirms it.
Here is an illustrative example, not a real quote: you insert $100 and the machine shows a total cost of 12%. You would receive about $88 worth of crypto, and the $12 goes to fees and margin.
How Do You Sell Bitcoin at a Two-Way Bitcoin ATM?
On a two-way machine, which FinCEN describes as exchanging currency in both directions, selling typically means choosing the sell option, sending crypto from your wallet to the address the machine shows, and receiving cash once the transfer is accepted. Not every machine supports selling, and the steps differ by operator.
- Choose “sell” and the coin you want to sell, and complete any ID check the machine asks for.
- Send the crypto from your wallet app to the QR code or address on the screen, after checking the amount and fee.
- Collect your cash once the machine accepts the transfer.
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Bitcoin ATM vs Traditional ATM: What Is the Difference?
What is a Bitcoin ATM compared with a bank ATM? A traditional ATM lets you withdraw or deposit money in your own bank account, while a Bitcoin ATM sells or buys crypto and sends it to a wallet.
Point |
Traditional (bank) ATM |
Bitcoin (crypto) ATM |
|---|---|---|
What it does |
Gives access to money in your bank account |
Swaps cash for crypto (some machines also swap crypto for cash) |
What you receive |
Cash or a bank balance change |
Crypto in a wallet address you provide |
What you need |
Bank card and PIN |
Cash and a wallet address; ID in many places |
Who sets the price |
The ATM owner and your bank may charge fees |
The operator sets the fee and the price of the coin |
If you make a mistake |
Depends on your bank’s rules and the ATM owner |
Refunds depend on the operator’s policy and local law |
How Much Do Crypto ATM Fees Cost? Fees and Spreads Explained
Crypto ATM fees are set by each operator, and lawsuits show they can be high.
The cost has a visible fee and a spread, which is the gap between the price the machine charges for a coin and the market price at that moment. A spread, or margin, is an extra amount added to the price, so it may not appear as a separate fee line.
Two US attorneys general have put numbers on this in lawsuits. Iowa’s attorney general said in February 2025 that one operator takes a 23% cut of the money Iowans send through its machines and another 21%, while the attorney general of the District of Columbia alleged in September 2025 that an operator charges fees of up to 26% per transaction without clearly disclosing them, against typical fees of 0.24% to 3% on other apps and exchanges. However it’s important to note that these are merely allegations in lawsuits, and not confirmed court findings or industry averages.
To check a machine’s proposed prices, compare the amount of crypto it offers with a live price such as the BTC-USDT market price, then add up everything you pay.
What Are Crypto ATM Limits and ID Rules?
Crypto ATM limits refer to the most amount of cash you can put in a machine in a day, and they vary by operator and place. Some US states cap new customers.
For example, under 2025 state laws, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Maryland, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Rhode Island set $2,000 a day for new users, and Iowa and Maine set $1,000. Some of those laws also cap fees, such as 15% in Iowa and 18% in Nebraska, and give new users refund windows of 14 to 90 days after fraud.
Identity checks (KYC) can also differ. Some state laws require ID, for example Arkansas, and operators can set their own checks as well. These are 2025 examples that may have changed, so read the notices on the machine itself for specific requirements.
How Does a Bitcoin ATM Compare With a Crypto Exchange?
A Bitcoin ATM is a physical machine that sells you crypto for cash, while a crypto exchange is a website or app where you trade crypto from an account. The table compares the usual differences, and the fee figures come from one lawsuit, not from industry averages.
Point |
Bitcoin ATM |
Online crypto exchange |
|---|---|---|
Where you use it |
A kiosk in a shop or public place |
A website or app |
How you pay |
Cash |
Usually a bank transfer, card or other crypto |
Account |
A wallet address is required; ID checks vary by machine and place |
An account and identity checks |
Fees |
Set by the operator; the D.C. lawsuit alleges fees up to 26% (not an average) |
Set by the platform; the same complaint says other apps and exchanges typically charge 0.24% to 3% |
If you prefer to compare prices before you decide, you can view live trading pairs on the crypto markets page.
Are Crypto ATMs Safe? Scams and Risks
Crypto ATMs are a common tool in scams, and payments are hard to reverse.
FTC data show that reported losses at these machines rose nearly tenfold from 2020 to 2023 and passed $65 million in the first half of 2024 alone, and people aged 60 and over reported about 71% of the total.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 13,400 complaints involving crypto kiosks in 2025, with reported losses over $388 million, though it says losses cannot be attributed solely to kiosks.
Many of these cases follow the pattern of other crypto scams:
- The contact: a call or message about an account problem or suspicious activity.
- The instruction: you are told to withdraw cash and take it to a specific machine, and a QR code is sent to you.
- The result: the cash goes into the scammer’s wallet.
The FTC says no real business or government agency will tell you to use a Bitcoin ATM, so slow down and talk to someone you trust before you withdraw cash from one. Report a scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or to your local consumer protection or police authority outside the US.
Are Bitcoin ATMs Legal? Rules by Country and State
Legality depends on where you are, and the rules change often.
As of November 13, 2026, four US states ban operating Bitcoin ATMs: Indiana (since March 9, 2026), Tennessee (since July 1, 2026), Vermont (since July 1, 2026) and Minnesota (since August 1, 2026, with kiosks to be removed by December 31, 2026). Hawaii’s law, signed in July 2026, bars kiosks from accepting cash in exchange for crypto from October 1, 2026, and many other states cap daily amounts or fees.
Elsewhere, rules target how the machines are marketed or run. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said in January 2022 that providers of digital payment token services should not market them in public areas, for example through physical ATMs, which is a marketing guideline rather than a ban.
What Should You Check Before Using a Bitcoin ATM?
Before you use a Bitcoin ATM, confirm that machines are allowed where you are, double-check the fee charged and the total on the screen, and check that the wallet address is yours. Never use a machine just because someone contacted you and told you to do so.
Crypto assets can lose some or all of their value, and please note that none of this is official investment advice. If you would rather start from an online account, you can create a BTSE account and look at live prices first.
FAQ
Where can you find a Bitcoin ATM?
The FTC says Bitcoin ATMs have been appearing at convenience stores, gas stations and other busy places. Check that machines are allowed where you live before you look for one.
Do I need a crypto wallet to use a Bitcoin ATM?
To buy, you normally need a wallet address for the machine to send the crypto to, so set up a wallet app first.
How long does a Bitcoin ATM transaction take?
Timing varies by operator and network: the machine submits the transfer, and the blockchain must then confirm it. Your wallet app shows when the crypto has arrived.
Can you get your money back after a Bitcoin ATM scam?
Refund rights depend on the operator’s policy and local law, and some US states give new users refund windows of 14 to 90 days after fraud. Contact the operator and the police quickly, and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you are in the US.
