To buy bitcoin at a Bitcoin ATM, you find a machine, verify your phone number (and ID for larger amounts), scan your own wallet’s receiving QR code, insert cash, and confirm. The BTC arrives in your wallet once the network confirms the transaction, usually within an hour. It works, but it’s one of the most expensive ways to buy bitcoin: total costs commonly run into double-digit percentages. In 2026, several US states have banned the machines outright and others cap fees and daily amounts. And if anyone has told you to go to a Bitcoin ATM to pay them, stop now. That’s a scam.
For the bigger picture, see the Bitcoin hub: it compares the options and points to the next guide to read.
- Use your own wallet. Only ever scan a QR code from a wallet app you control. Never use a code someone sent you.
- Expect high costs. Most of the fee is usually hidden in the exchange rate, not shown as a separate line.
- Limits are rising. Many states now set daily caps (often $1,000–$2,500 for new users), and some ban crypto kiosks entirely.
- Transfers are irreversible. Once the bitcoin leaves the machine, neither the operator nor your bank can usually pull it back.
- Online exchanges are far cheaper if you have a bank account or debit card.
Is the Bitcoin ATM Request Coming From Someone Else? Read This First
Scams tied to crypto ATMs are now the biggest source of complaints about the machines. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Americans filed more than 13,400 complaints involving cryptocurrency kiosks in 2025, with reported losses of more than $388 million. Older adults bore the largest share. The script is almost always the same:
- A caller, text or pop-up claims to be your bank, the IRS, police, a utility, Amazon, Microsoft support, or a relative in trouble.
- They say your money is at risk, or you owe a fine, and you must act today.
- They tell you to withdraw cash and stay on the phone while you drive to a convenience store or gas station.
- They send you a QR code to scan at the machine, which is their wallet.
No government agency, bank, utility or tech company takes payment through a Bitcoin ATM, and none will ask you to “protect” your money by turning it into crypto. If this matches your situation, hang up, call the organisation using a number you look up yourself, and tell someone you trust. Our crypto scam guide covers the other common patterns.
Crypto ATM scams: what the FBI and FTC data show
Crypto ATM scams are growing fast, and they hit older people hardest. The FBI’s IC3 says kiosk-related complaints rose 23% and losses rose 58% between 2024 and 2025. People over 50 filed more than half of the 2025 complaints and reported over $302 million of the losses. Texas, Florida, California and Illinois reported the largest totals. The Federal Trade Commission found a similar pattern in its 2024 data spotlight. Reported losses at Bitcoin ATMs rose nearly tenfold between 2020 and 2023 and topped $65 million in the first half of 2024 alone. People aged 60 and over were more than three times as likely as younger adults to report a loss, and the median reported loss was $10,000. Most cases started as government, business or tech-support impersonation. Both agencies say these figures understate the real losses, because most fraud is never reported.
Bitcoin ATM Scams: How They Work
A Bitcoin ATM scam works by getting the victim to turn their own cash into crypto and send it to a wallet the scammer controls. The machine is only the conversion point: the fraud happens beforehand, in a phone call, text, pop-up or online relationship, and the kiosk makes the payment fast and irreversible.
The common variants differ only in the story used to get you to the machine:
- “Safe account” impersonation: a fake bank fraud team or government agent says your savings are compromised and must be “secured” in bitcoin.
- Tech-support pop-ups: a fake browser warning gives a number to call, and the “technician” demands payment.
- Romance and investment cons: a contact built up over weeks asks you to fund a trading account. Our guide to the pig-butchering scam explains this long-con version.
- Fake fines and debts: unpaid tolls, missed jury duty, utility shut-offs or arrest warrants that can supposedly be cleared only with crypto.
What makes the kiosk attractive to criminals is the mechanics. You stand at the machine, often still on the phone, and scan a QR code the scammer sent. The coins reach their wallet within minutes. State lawsuits show how much kiosk volume can come from this. The District of Columbia’s complaint against Athena Bitcoin cited the company’s own data that 93% of deposits in its first five months in D.C. resulted from scams. Massachusetts, which sued Bitcoin Depot in February 2026, said its investigation found that more than 80% of customers who spent over $10,000 at the company’s kiosks in 2023–2025 were involved in scam transactions. Both companies dispute the allegations.
New state laws target these steps directly: ID checks on every transaction, low daily caps for first-time users, mandatory warnings on screen, and refunds for new customers who report fraud quickly. The safest rule is still simple: never use a crypto ATM because someone else told you to. If it has already happened, our crypto scam recovery guide covers reporting steps and how to avoid the “recovery” scammers who often follow.
What Is a Crypto ATM? Crypto ATMs vs Bitcoin ATMs
A crypto ATM is a kiosk that swaps cash for cryptocurrency and sends it to a wallet address you scan. Some machines also do the reverse. “Bitcoin ATM,” “crypto ATM,” “cryptocurrency ATM,” “crypto kiosk” and “crypto dispenser” all mean the same kind of machine. Most are found in convenience stores, gas stations and malls. Unlike a bank ATM, a crypto ATM isn’t linked to a bank account. It’s run by a private operator that is regulated as a money transmitter. That operator sets the exchange rate and keeps the markup.
Which coins can you buy at a crypto ATM?
Almost every crypto ATM sells bitcoin, which is why the machines are usually called Bitcoin ATMs. According to Coin ATM Radar’s data, litecoin and ether have long been the next most widely supported coins. Some operators add a few others, such as Dogecoin. Each coin needs a receiving address on its own network, so check that the wallet you scan matches the coin you picked on screen. Directory listings show which coins each machine supports.
Crypto ATM machines, kiosks and dispensers: is there a difference?
Not in practice. “Crypto kiosk” or “virtual currency kiosk” is the term most US state laws use, and the rules in this guide apply whatever the machine is called. A “one-way” crypto ATM only sells crypto for cash. A “two-way” machine also buys crypto from you and pays out banknotes (see the section on selling below). Some newer kiosks accept debit cards as well as cash, but most still take only cash.
How to find a crypto ATM near you
Coin ATM Radar is the largest crypto ATM directory. It lets you filter machines by coin, buy or sell support, operator and verification limits. As of 29 March 2026 it tracked 38,928 active machines worldwide, about 30,200 of them in the US, and the count has been falling as states pass bans. It has fallen further since: Bitcoin Depot, which ran roughly 9,700 kiosks across the US, Canada and Australia, took all of them offline before filing for Chapter 11 in May 2026. Before you travel to a machine, check the operator’s own site or app to confirm it is still online, and check whether your state still allows kiosks (see the rules section below).
Bitcoin ATM near me: how to find one and check it
To find a Bitcoin ATM near you, search Coin ATM Radar (coinatmradar.com) or a map app for “Bitcoin ATM”, then check three things before you go: that the machine is still online, that its operator is licensed in your state, and that kiosks are still legal where you live. Listings go stale quickly in 2026, as operators exit and states ban machines.
- Filter the directory. On Coin ATM Radar, filter by the coin you want, by “buy” or “sell” if you need a two-way machine, and by the verification limits shown. Note the operator’s name on the listing.
- Confirm the operator is licensed. In the US, crypto kiosk operators generally need a state money transmitter licence or kiosk registration. You can look up the company by name on NMLS Consumer Access (nmlsconsumeraccess.org) or your state financial regulator’s licence search, and check that it is registered as a money services business with FinCEN. An operator you can’t find on any register is a red flag.
- Check the operator’s own site. It should list the machine, its limits and a working support phone number; if it doesn’t, choose another machine.
- Check your state’s status. If you live in a state that bans kiosks, a machine shown on an old map shouldn’t be running, and any that is may be operating unlawfully.
How to Buy Bitcoin at a Bitcoin ATM: Step by Step
Step 1: Set up a wallet you control
Before you leave home, install a reputable Bitcoin wallet app and write down its recovery phrase on paper. This is the wallet the ATM will send to. Some machines offer to print a “paper wallet” receipt instead. Avoid this: anyone who sees or photographs the paper can take the funds, and it’s easy to lose. For larger amounts, consider moving the coins to a hardware wallet afterwards. Our crypto wallet guide explains the options.
Step 2: Find a machine, and check it’s legal where you are
Directories such as CoinATMRadar list machines by location, operator, supported coins, buy/sell support and ID limits. Check the operator’s own website for the machine’s status as well, because networks have shrunk quickly in 2026. Bitcoin Depot, once the largest US operator, filed for Chapter 11 in May 2026 and took its machines offline as part of a wind-down. Others have pulled out of states that passed bans. If a listed machine is in a state where kiosks are now prohibited, it shouldn’t be operating.
Step 3: Verify your identity
Operators are regulated money transmitters and must follow anti-money-laundering rules. Expect tiered checks:
- Small purchases: usually a phone number and an SMS code. Some states now require ID for every transaction.
- Larger purchases: scan of a government ID, sometimes a selfie taken by the machine’s camera.
- Highest tiers: extra questions about where the money comes from and what it’s for, or a pre-registration online.
Many machines now show an on-screen fraud warning and ask whether anyone is instructing you. Answer honestly. Those prompts exist because so many people are being scammed while still on the phone.
Step 4: Scan your wallet’s receiving address
In your wallet app, tap Receive and select Bitcoin. Hold the QR code up to the machine’s scanner. Then compare the first and last six or so characters shown on the ATM screen with the address in your app. Make sure the coin matches: sending to an address for the wrong network can mean permanent loss.
Step 5: Insert cash and read the rate before confirming
Feed in your bills. The machine shows how much BTC you’ll receive for the cash inserted. Work out your real price before you press confirm: divide the cash you inserted by the BTC amount, and compare that with the live spot price on any price site. The gap is your true cost, including the markup. If it’s higher than you expected, most machines let you cancel before the cash is committed. Check the screen for how refunds work, since some return cash and others issue a voucher.
Step 6: Keep the receipt and watch the confirmation
The receipt usually shows the amount, the destination address and a transaction ID. The transaction typically appears as “pending” in your wallet within minutes, then confirms as the next Bitcoin blocks are mined. Blocks average about ten minutes, but some operators batch sends or wait for compliance checks, so delays of an hour or more happen. You can follow the transfer yourself with the transaction ID. Our guide to finding and tracking a crypto transaction ID shows how.
Bitcoin ATM Fees: What You Actually Pay
ATM costs are usually made up of two parts:
- The markup (spread): the machine’s BTC price is set above the market price. This is usually the biggest part, and it’s easy to miss because it isn’t shown as a “fee.”
- A flat or network fee: a few dollars per transaction, sometimes labelled as the miner fee.
Total costs vary by operator, location and amount. Industry guides commonly cite roughly 10% to 20%-plus for purchases. Investigations and lawsuits have described markups above 20% on some machines: the District of Columbia’s attorney general alleged undisclosed fees of about 26% in its 2025 suit against operator Athena Bitcoin. Some states now cap what operators can charge. California and Iowa cap charges at the greater of $5 or 15% of the transaction, for example, and Illinois and Georgia at 18%. Those caps still leave ATMs far above online exchanges. Pricing practices are also the subject of legal action: Massachusetts’ February 2026 suit alleges that Bitcoin Depot showed a lower bitcoin price at the start of a transaction and then added fees that pushed the final price above the advertised one. The company disputes the claims.
| Cash inserted | All-in cost of 15% | Value of BTC you receive |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | $15 | about $85 |
| $500 | $75 | about $425 |
| $1,000 | $150 | about $850 |
For comparison, buying on a mainstream exchange with a bank transfer often costs around 1% or less in total, depending on the platform and order type. See our exchange comparison and the step-by-step how to buy bitcoin guide.
How much does a crypto ATM charge?
Expect a crypto ATM to cost you somewhere around 10% to 20% of each purchase, and sometimes more where the law doesn’t cap fees. The fee screen won’t always show this, so the reliable test is the one in Step 5: divide the cash you put in by the coins you receive, and compare that with the market price. The same machine can charge different rates in different states, because caps only apply where they’re law. Operators also tend to charge the most on their smallest transactions, because the flat fee is a bigger share of a small purchase. Sell-side rates at two-way machines are usually just as wide.
Bitcoin ATM Rules and Limits in 2026
Rules have tightened fast, driven by fraud losses. As of October 2026:
- Statewide bans: Indiana became the first US state to ban crypto ATMs in March 2026. Tennessee’s and Vermont’s bans took effect on 1 July 2026, and Minnesota’s on 1 August 2026. Hawaii has banned buying crypto with cash at kiosks since 1 October 2026, although cash withdrawals are still allowed. Several cities, including Spokane, Washington, and Stillwater, Minnesota, have passed local bans.
- Daily limits: many states cap how much one person can put in per day. California’s $1,000 daily cap is a common model. Others use tiered limits, such as Illinois’s $2,500 per day for new customers, with higher limits for established ones.
- Fee caps, warnings and refunds: states including California, Iowa, Illinois and Georgia cap fees. Many require prominent scam warnings, and some require refunds when a new customer is shown to have been defrauded.
- Federal: the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act (S. 710), introduced in the Senate in February 2025, would set a $2,000 daily limit for new customers and require operators to register their kiosks with the Treasury. It had not advanced beyond the Senate Banking Committee as of the latest reports (mid-2026), so there is no nationwide crypto ATM law yet. Check its status on congress.gov before assuming it applies.
- Outside the US: the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has registered no crypto ATM operators, so machines operating there are illegal. Canada proposed a national ban in its April 2026 Spring Economic Update. Australia and New Zealand have also moved to restrict or ban them.
State laws keep changing, so check your state’s financial regulator or attorney general’s website for the current limits before relying on any figure above.
Which states have banned crypto ATMs?
As of October 2026, four US states ban crypto ATMs statewide: Indiana (since March 2026), Tennessee and Vermont (both since 1 July 2026) and Minnesota (since 1 August 2026). A fifth, Hawaii, has banned cash-to-crypto purchases at kiosks since 1 October 2026 while still allowing crypto-to-cash withdrawals. Tennessee’s law also covers businesses that host a kiosk, and violations are a misdemeanor. Vermont’s ban, signed on 16 June 2026, replaced an earlier moratorium on new machines and requires operators to refund transactions made in breach of it. Minnesota operators had to switch machines off on 1 August and have until 31 December 2026 to remove them. Bills to ban kiosks have also been filed in other states, including New Jersey and Delaware, but they hadn’t become law at the time of writing.
Crypto ATM limits and fee caps by state
Where crypto ATMs are still legal, the main state rules are daily deposit caps, fee caps and refund duties for scam victims. A few examples, as of October 2026:
| State | Daily limit | Fee cap | Other rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $1,000 per customer | Greater of $5 or 15% | Limit upheld in court in 2024. The regulator has fined operators for breaking it. |
| Iowa | $1,000 | Greater of $5 or 15% | $10,000 cap over a new customer’s first 30 days. Refunds for scam victims who report within 90 days. |
| Illinois | $2,500 for new customers | 18% | Full refunds for new customers who were defrauded. |
| Georgia | $2,500 new / $10,000 existing | 18% | Took effect 1 July 2026. Warnings and, in some cases, refunds. |
AARP has counted around 20 states with crypto kiosk laws on the books by 2026, and more bills are moving. Treat this table as a starting point and confirm the current rules with your state regulator.
Can You Sell Bitcoin at an ATM?
Some machines are “two-way,” meaning they also pay out cash. The usual flow: choose Sell, enter the amount, and the machine shows a deposit address or QR code. You send BTC from your wallet, then wait for the required confirmations. You redeem a code at the machine (sometimes later that day) to collect cash. Sell-side spreads are also wide, and withdrawal limits apply. Selling through an exchange and withdrawing to your bank is nearly always cheaper. Either way, selling is a potentially taxable event: see our crypto tax guide.
Selling bitcoin at a two-way Bitcoin ATM: what to check first
Only a minority of crypto ATMs are two-way, so check the “sell” filter in a directory and confirm on the operator’s site that the specific machine pays out cash before you send anything. Expect ID verification for most sales, since the operator is handing over banknotes. Before confirming, note the BTC amount and the cash amount the screen quotes, and compare them with the market price as in Step 5 above; the sell spread is your cost.
- You pay the network fee. The BTC you send from your wallet must arrive in full, so add the miner fee on top and send the exact amount requested.
- Payout waits for confirmations. Many machines release cash only after the transaction confirms, so a redemption code or receipt may be valid for later collection.
- Machines run out of cash. Payouts come in fixed notes and the cassette can be empty, which is another reason to check with the operator first.
Never sell at a kiosk to collect cash for someone else: acting as a “money mule” is another common scam role.
When a Bitcoin ATM Makes Sense, and When It Doesn’t
Reasonable uses: you only have cash and no bank account or card, you want a small amount quickly, or you prefer a face-to-face machine to setting up an exchange account. Even then, compare the machine’s rate with a nearby alternative, such as a peer-to-peer marketplace or a retailer that sells crypto through an app.
ATMs are one of several cash routes; our guide on how to buy crypto with cash compares them with loading cash into an app, vouchers and in-person trades.
Poor uses: regular investing, any purchase over a few hundred dollars when an exchange is available, “privacy” (ATMs collect phone numbers, ID and camera images, and the blockchain record is public), and above all any payment someone else asked you to make.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Scanning a QR code that came from someone else, whether by text, email, a printed sheet or a phone call.
- Skipping the rate check and paying a 20%+ markup without noticing.
- Using the paper-wallet receipt as long-term storage.
- Splitting cash across several machines to stay under limits. That can look like “structuring,” which is itself illegal in the US.
- Throwing away the receipt. It records the cost basis you’ll need at tax time, and the transaction ID you’ll need if something goes wrong.
FAQ
Do Bitcoin ATMs require ID?
It depends on the amount, the operator and your state. Small purchases may only need a phone number and SMS code, while larger ones require a government ID scan and often a selfie. Several states now require full ID verification for every transaction, along with daily caps. Expect stricter checks than in past years, especially on your first use of a new machine or operator.
How long does a Bitcoin ATM transaction take?
The machine usually broadcasts the transaction within minutes, and it typically confirms within 10 to 60 minutes as Bitcoin blocks are mined. Some operators hold or batch transactions for compliance checks, which can stretch that out. If it hasn’t arrived after a few hours, look up the transaction ID from your receipt in a block explorer and contact the operator’s support with that ID.
Can I get my money back from a Bitcoin ATM?
Usually not once the bitcoin has been sent, because blockchain transfers can’t be reversed. If you were scammed, act fast anyway. Call the operator immediately (some freeze funds or, in certain states, must refund new customers who were defrauded), report it at ic3.gov and to your local police, and keep the receipt. Be wary of “recovery” services that contact you: they’re often a second scam.
What is the daily limit at a Bitcoin ATM?
There’s no single number. Operators set their own limits, and states increasingly impose legal caps, commonly $1,000 to $2,500 per day for new customers, with higher limits for verified, established users in some states. A few states ban crypto kiosks altogether. The machine will show your current limit after you verify your phone number.
Is buying bitcoin at an ATM taxable?
In the US, simply buying bitcoin with cash isn’t a taxable event. Selling, swapping or spending it later can be. Keep the receipt: the total cash you paid, including fees, generally forms your cost basis, which you’ll need to calculate any gain or loss when you dispose of the coins.
Are crypto ATMs legal?
In most US states, yes, as long as a licensed operator runs the machine and follows state limits. Indiana, Tennessee, Vermont and Minnesota ban them outright as of October 2026, Hawaii bans cash purchases at them, and some cities have local bans. Outside the US the picture is mixed. In the UK, no crypto ATM operator is registered with the FCA, so any machine running there is illegal. Canada has proposed a national ban, and Australia caps cash transactions at A$5,000.
Can you buy bitcoin with cash at a Bitcoin ATM?
Yes. Paying with cash is the main thing Bitcoin ATMs are for: you insert banknotes and the machine sends bitcoin to the wallet address you scan. A few newer kiosks also take debit cards. Cash purchases are no longer possible in states that ban kiosks, including Hawaii since 1 October 2026, and daily cash limits apply in many others.
What is a crypto kiosk?
A crypto kiosk is another name for a crypto ATM: a self-service machine that sells cryptocurrency for cash and, on two-way models, buys it back. Most US state laws call them “virtual currency kiosks.” The name changes nothing about the fees, limits or scam risks.
Can I buy Ethereum or other coins at a crypto ATM?
Often, yes. After bitcoin, ether and litecoin are the coins crypto ATMs most commonly support, and some operators offer a few more. Check the machine’s listing before you go, and make sure you scan a receiving address for the right network, such as an Ethereum address for ETH.
Crypto is volatile and risky; this is education, not financial advice. Do your own research.
