Up to 100,000 ‘regular’ ATMs in the United States could soon be Bitcoin-enabled after a deal was struck between American retail Bitcoin exchange, LibertyX and fiat ATM manufacturer, Genmega.
The pair have joined forces to develop Bitcoin-buying software which can be added seamlessly to Genmega’s fiat-dispensing machines.
Anyone who owns or operates a Genmega ATM now has the option to add the LibertyX Bitcoin functionality – allowing users to purchase Bitcoin at the ATM and have it deposited into their digital wallet.
LibertyX Co-Founder & CEO Chris Yim says he hopes the new technology will expose more people to the world of cryptocurrencies.
“We have been working tirelessly to make it easier to buy cryptocurrencies for the last five years and now are bringing simplicity, convenience and trust to the cryptocurrency purchasing experience through the timeless ATM.”
Around 100,000 Genmega ATMs are currently in operation across the US.
Operators can have their existing machines Bitcoin-enabled for free, however, Wes Dunn, Senior Vice President of Sales at Genmega, says its too early to say how many will upgrade.
“We are excited to work with LibertyX on this new initiative that will drive additional foot-traffic to merchant locations and provide added revenue to our operators ‒ ensuring they stay ahead of the market and bring added value to consumers.”
The rise of Bitcoin ATMs
According to Statista, 2131 new Bitcoin ATMs have been installed across the world in the past 12 months.
There are now believed to be 3,789 Bitcoin ATMs globally.
The top ten countries with the most Bitcoin ATM’s are:
United States – 2331
Canada – 677
Austria – 233
United Kingdom – 209
Russian Federation – 72
Spain – 67
Czech Republic – 65
Australia – 55
Italy – 38
The national figures are based on a database developed by Coin ATM Radar, the publisher of a global Bitcoin ATM location map.
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