[2021-10-22] 200 Bitcoin ATMs installed at Walmart… with plans for 8000 in total

[waybesuricata]

Walmart plans to eventually install 8,000 Bitcoin ATMs in the U.S. and has installed 200 in a pilot program.

Walmart has partnered with coin-cashing machine company Coinstar and crypto-cash exchange CoinMe to install 200 Bitcoin ATMs in its stores across the U.S.

Although the pilot includes only 200 kiosks, the broader launch plans to eventually see the installation of 8,000 bitcoin ATMs across the country, according to Bloomberg. There has been no further details on timelines as of yet.

According to Coin ATM Radar, there are currently over 25,000 bitcoin ATMs at select grocery stores and service stations in the U.S. Coinstar operates 4,400 kiosks enabled for Bitcoin purchases, across 33 states.

Chief strategy officer and head of research at BitOoda Sam Doctor told Bloomberg that while Bitcoin ATMs aren’t a new development, and can already be found at many supermarkets:

“Walmart expands Bitcoin access to more people, though, and gives it further legitimacy among skeptics, should they roll it out beyond an initial pilot.”


Source and continuation of news: https://cointelegraph.com/news/200-bitcoin-atms-installed-at-walmart-with-plans-for-8000-in-total

[Finokitty]

Walmart plans to eventually install 8,000 Bitcoin ATMs in the U.S. and has installed 200 in a pilot program.

Walmart has partnered with coin-cashing machine company Coinstar and crypto-cash exchange CoinMe to install 200 Bitcoin ATMs in its stores across the U.S.

Although the pilot includes only 200 kiosks, the broader launch plans to eventually see the installation of 8,000 bitcoin ATMs across the country, according to Bloomberg. There has been no further details on timelines as of yet.

According to Coin ATM Radar, there are currently over 25,000 bitcoin ATMs at select grocery stores and service stations in the U.S. Coinstar operates 4,400 kiosks enabled for Bitcoin purchases, across 33 states.

Chief strategy officer and head of research at BitOoda Sam Doctor told Bloomberg that while Bitcoin ATMs aren’t a new development, and can already be found at many supermarkets:

“Walmart expands Bitcoin access to more people, though, and gives it further legitimacy among skeptics, should they roll it out beyond an initial pilot.”


Source and continuation of news: https://cointelegraph.com/news/200-bitcoin-atms-installed-at-walmart-with-plans-for-8000-in-total

This is a good start for Walmart! And 8000 Bitcoin ATM is just the beginning, I do believe in many more to come after Bitcoin reaches 100 000! So Walmart goes the right way!

[Kakmakr]

When you are using a Coinstar Kiosk at Walmart, you will be charged an 11.9% fee for other transactions, but each purchase of Bitcoin carries a transaction fee of 4% and a cash exchange fee of 7%...which is not bad. The only thing is.... how many people will be willing to go the extra mile to create a Coinme account?

Also, Coinstar are available in many countries and I see they have a "Bitcoin" option on their website... so I am curious to know if this "buying Bitcoins at kiosks" are available in those other countries too?  

[SFR10]

The only thing is.... how many people will be willing to go the extra mile to create a Coinme account?

I don't think a lot of customers would be using it for that feature alone ^{[it doesn't make sense to use a BTM that forces its users to go through a KYC process for small amounts]}!
^{- Even they know that [hence why it's in the pilot stage].}

Also, Coinstar are available in many countries and I see they have a "Bitcoin" option on their website... so I am curious to know if this "buying Bitcoins at kiosks" are available in those other countries too?  

Unfortunately, it's only available in the US ^[AFAICS].
^{- They still have to partner with a third-party provider to offer that feature.}