The universe of Bitcoin ATMs (or BTMs, if you prefer) is growing at an increasing rate, and there are some interesting developments to report.
Before we get into individual stories and machine launches, though, let’s point out that the rate of Bitcoin ATM installations is approaching 1.2 per day, according to CoinATMRadar.com, or about 8 machines worldwide per week on average.
Currently leading the way in new ATM installations? The new No. 1 is the United States, which surpassed Canada in September as the country with the most total Bitcoin ATMs (59 to 54, per Coin ATM Radar’s data at the time of writing).
Let’s stick with the US for our first big story this week.
CoinOutlet Announces Partnership That Might Create World’s Largest Bitcoin ATM Network
North Carolina-based CoinOutlet, which produces KYC/AML-compliant two-way kiosks, announced in a statement Monday that it had entered into a partnership that could potentially create the largest network of Bitcoin ATMs on the planet.
Partners in this venture are Locant Services, which holds the rights to 100,000 locations around the US where operators of stand-alone services such as ATMs can install their devices, and Bitcoin Shop, an online retail portal that accepts a few cryptocurrencies as payment.
“The partnership with Locant allows us to drive Bitcoin and digital currency adoption through a systematic rollout of ATMs across key cities from coast to coast,” CoinOutlet CEO Eric Grill said in a statement. “Our partnership encompasses the perfect collaboration of resources, technology, and prime locations.”
CoinOutlet said it planned to install 30 kiosks across the US by the end of 2014. The first cities to receive machines will include Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Boston, San Diego and Berkeley, California.
Here is a video of the CoinOutlet ATM in action, courtesy of MadBitcoins:
Two of Europe’s Coolest Capitals Get Their Countries’ First Bitcoin ATMs
If any of you Bitcoin-only travelers are making plans to visit Europe this fall, Croatia and Portugal just got their first Bitcoin ATMs.
The Croatian ATM is a two-way BitAccess machine installed at a cafe in Zagreb and operated by local company Bspend. The cafe, called History Coffee Club [Google maps], offers coffee, cocktails, plenty of reading space and the occasional Bollywood film screening.
The machine was installed on September 25, according to the Croatian Bitcoin Portal [HR], who reported immediate interest in the kiosk among the cafe’s patrons.
Portuguese manufacturer installs first BTM inLisbon
In Portugal, the Bitcoin ATM slated for installation in Lisbon on October 5 is totally unique, as it is the first machine created by local startup Bitcoin Já, which worked with a Portuguese ATM shell manufacturer to design its own kiosks.
NewsBTC.com first reported this story on Monday. From that piece:
“The ATM is by and large a two-way system, meaning that consumers will not only be able to purchase bitcoin, but they’ll be able to sell it in exchange for cash, too. Moreover, Bitcoin Já says that future software updates will bring support for altcoins and service payments, adding layers of convenience to the machine.”
The machine will be installed at a local cinema, called atCinema [Google maps], right in the heart of Lisbon. To celebrate the ATM’s launch, Bitcoin Já is hosting a screening of “The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin” and a discussion (in Portuguese) afterward that is scheduled to feature yet-unnamed special guests. That event is scheduled for 5:00 PM local time on October 4 at the atCinema.
Bitcoin Já founder Joaquim Lambiza told NewsBTC that his company made the decision to build their own ATMs in January after being disappointed with what options were then available.
“When I wanted to launch an ATM in Portugal back in January, I was not satisfied with either the business approach or the ROI that existing solutions offered so I decided to create a new ATM starting from a pure business perspective,” Lambiza said.
NewsBTC reports that this first Bitcoin Já ATM will charge a 3% fee, but operators will be able to set their own fees when they get their machines.