Bitcoin ATMs are rapidly proliferating in Australia, making it the fastest-growing market for these kiosks globally. Users of these ATMs can deposit cash to receive cryptocurrency in digital wallets or withdraw cash from crypto sales. The United States leads the market with around 32,000 machines, followed by Canada with 3,000. Australia has surged to third place with nearly 1,200 ATMs, up from just 73 two years ago, and even more are expected pending regulatory approval.
- Expansion: U.S. companies like Bitcoin Depot are driving growth, with over 200 kiosks awaiting deployment in Australia.
- Compliance: Despite some operators having compliance measures, Australian authorities view crypto ATMs as potential money laundering risks.
- Market Dynamics: The increase in ATMs comes amid banking restrictions on crypto transactions and Australia’s strong gambling culture, which extends to crypto trading.
The rise of these ATMs has sparked concerns about their role in illicit activities, as highlighted by Australian authorities who have identified them as a money laundering vulnerability. Crypto kiosks have processed at least $160 million in illegal volumes worldwide since 2019. Additionally, Australia’s entrenched gambling culture contributes to the demand for crypto, as volatile coins offer an alternative form of wagering.
Amid these concerns, Australian banks have tightened their restrictions on transactions with digital-asset exchanges, prompting local crypto users to seek alternative financial platforms, including overseas ones. CoinFlip, a new entrant in Australia, reported a fourfold increase in digital-asset transactions through its ATMs in the past year, further fueling the growth of this parallel financial system.
Bitcoin Depot’s CEO, Brandon Mintz, compared Australia’s market potential to that of Texas, which has a similar population but hosts 3,000 to 4,000 Bitcoin ATMs. This suggests that the number of Bitcoin ATMs in Australia could significantly increase over the next few years.
