Saw my 1st 'hybrid' Bitcoin ATM this morning.

[deadmousehat]

it's very cool and the fee is not that big. I hope someday I can use BATM even if it's just to gain experience. in my country it seems like it will be difficult to find BATM because until now there are still many people who do not understand bitcoin here.

[pawanjain]

It's always good to hear about more bitcoin ATMs being operated globally. I have always wanted to use a bitcoin ATM but sadly my country doesn't have one.
This made me think what if I had a bitcoin ATM. How would I make profits from operating a bitcoin ATM ?
Even if charged 5% for both incoming and outgoing transactions how would I be able to make enough profits to pay the rent and still saving some coins.
Unless and until we don't have our own space to operate an ATM it will be tough to get profits from a Bitcoin ATM.

[DaveF]

It's always good to hear about more bitcoin ATMs being operated globally. I have always wanted to use a bitcoin ATM but sadly my country doesn't have one.
This made me think what if I had a bitcoin ATM. How would I make profits from operating a bitcoin ATM ?
Even if charged 5% for both incoming and outgoing transactions how would I be able to make enough profits to pay the rent and still saving some coins.
Unless and until we don't have our own space to operate an ATM it will be tough to get profits from a Bitcoin ATM.

Guess it really depends on use. At the moment with the dip BTC is at $54,000.
If you are moving .1BTC through it a week that is $5400
Even if you are just selling that is still 5% of $5400 or $270 a week $14,000 a year.

Depending on where you live that could be a lot of money or put you well below the poverty line.

-Dave

[Lucius]

How would I make profits from operating a bitcoin ATM ?

Given that the number of crypto ATMs is constantly growing, you should have no doubt that this business is quite profitable, but not anywhere in the world. Most of these devices are located in the US and Canada, and there is certainly a good reason for that - people are familiar with cryptocurrencies and there is a demand for such a service. Depending on the country and location, they say that the ATM can pay off within 3-6 months, but of course, it also depends on what kind of device you will buy, because there are those that cost $5000+, but also simple ones that cost less than $1000.

You have a lot of examples where it is explained how to start this business and how to make money, here is one example.

[SFR10]

If you wanted to buy you spoke to the cashier, gave him cash and you got a receipt with a barcode that you went to the machine with the receipt scanned the barcode and then a QR code for your address and poof BTC in your wallet.

So, unlike with the last couple of steps when you try to sell, this one doesn't print a receipt "after" sending you the amount! If it was offering such a thing, you could've left the store without having to wait for a confirmation.
^{- Apart from that, it looks like it's just missing lightning support to tackle the issues with waiting times.}

Who could then make a judgement call as to wait for a certain number of conformations or just hand you the cash.

I just did $20 out

Out of curiosity, did the cashier make you wait for that amount?

It was an unbranded machine. No logos or anything, but it looked well built. So I don't know if it was a custom built thing or a new unit that I have not seen yet or something else.

It's probably a prototype but I do like this version more, as opposed to the original one ^{[I like the interaction]}!

[DaveF]

I just did $20 out

Out of curiosity, did the cashier make you wait for that amount?

No, but the mempool was empty and a had a 2 sat/b fee.
I don't know what the webpage he was looking at showed but he just took the receipt and scanned it in and handed me 20 singles.
This was after I had given him 2 twenties and a ten for the $50 I put in. So I took that as a hint that he really did not want to talk about it.

-Dave

[so98nn]

Crazy hnn! While reading your experience I was like imagining the whole picture in front of me, like I was there itself. It’s so cool to have these machines around giving that very feeling of bitcoin existence around the globe. I mean it’s like the portal to feel the bitcoin you know?

Because everyday I come to forum or read an article somewhere I’m just like it’s usual day with bitcoin in all virtual or text format, no way to feel it. But when you physically visit the store, make actions like pressing few buttons, printing slips, exchanging money, yeah that alerts your senses we are having something real here.

Just wish that bitcoin becomes the normal thing of everyday life forever. Don’t wanna miss it.

[Ararbermas]

is that necessary that you need to ask the cashier first and do some stuff in order to cash in, cash out or unless if you want to buy something within the store? Because you know i will pay cash instead of bitcoin.. But first i want to experience the machine on my own how does it feels. its a best experience i guess wherein very smooth withdrawal.. Lol i hope someone provides such ATM here in my place because it will be great for sure.

[buwaytress]

Hey DaveF. Could you return and ask to make a pic maybe? Curious actually. And the training you'd need to do for that sounds a bit more than regular. Seems ripe for someone to come and take advantage of a careless employee.

Maybe a bit off-topic, but just saw the new South Park special and people were all accepting only Bitcoin, though the insinuation was less than savoury (fly-by-night MLM ponzi, which of course, is ironic given the setting was 40 years into the future, making Bitcoin 50 years old and ill-fitting for the fly by night label heh).

[LittleBitFunny]

It's always good to hear about more bitcoin ATMs being operated globally. I have always wanted to use a bitcoin ATM but sadly my country doesn't have one.
This made me think what if I had a bitcoin ATM. How would I make profits from operating a bitcoin ATM ?
Even if charged 5% for both incoming and outgoing transactions how would I be able to make enough profits to pay the rent and still saving some coins.
Unless and until we don't have our own space to operate an ATM it will be tough to get profits from a Bitcoin ATM.

Guess it really depends on use. At the moment with the dip BTC is at $54,000.
If you are moving .1BTC through it a week that is $5400
Even if you are just selling that is still 5% of $5400 or $270 a week $14,000 a year.
Depending on where you live that could be a lot of money or put you well below the poverty line.

Why would people use such physical instruments for a higher fee? Where exchanges deduct a maximum of 3% and 1% fee for VIP users, paying a 5% fee is very exorbitant. No one will use such physical services unless they are in a critical situation. And for a high amount of bitcoin buying/selling, it seems very risky that I have to provide information about my purchase to the cashier.

[DaveF]

Hey DaveF. Could you return and ask to make a pic maybe? Curious actually. And the training you'd need to do for that sounds a bit more than regular. Seems ripe for someone to come and take advantage of a careless employee.

Maybe a bit off-topic, but just saw the new South Park special and people were all accepting only Bitcoin, though the insinuation was less than savoury (fly-by-night MLM ponzi, which of course, is ironic given the setting was 40 years into the future, making Bitcoin 50 years old and ill-fitting for the fly by night label heh).

As I posted above I'll be back in the area after the new year, I'll do it then. If for some off reason I am there before I'll do it then.

Biggest issue is I have to do most of the walk again since I started walking at Manhattan Ave & 101st and ended where St. Nicholas crosses Amsterdam. Which is probably 3+ miles. I really really think that it was 130s and I know it was before the Dunkin Donuts at 155th where I got a cup of coffee that didn't suck.
Beyond that I can really been off. so while I think it was in the 130s, as I said above it could been in the 120s to the 140s. And since I am a paranoid idiot, I have the GPS tracking off on my phone so I can't even look back as to where I stopped for 15 minutes.

-Dave

[buwaytress]

As I posted above I'll be back in the area after the new year, I'll do it then. If for some off reason I am there before I'll do it then.

Biggest issue is I have to do most of the walk again since I started walking at Manhattan Ave & 101st and ended where St. Nicholas crosses Amsterdam. Which is probably 3+ miles. I really really think that it was 130s and I know it was before the Dunkin Donuts at 155th where I got a cup of coffee that didn't suck.
Beyond that I can really been off. so while I think it was in the 130s, as I said above it could been in the 120s to the 140s. And since I am a paranoid idiot, I have the GPS tracking off on my phone so I can't even look back as to where I stopped for 15 minutes.

No rush. I'll remember to check back as always curious. I've been waiting over a year now for BATMs to return to my neighbourhood. They took them down around the time first round of Covid was coming, the speculation from me (and a little from shopowners I spoke to) was that they were going to update the machines to make them AMLD5 compliant. It's been 18 months or so since. Not sure if they've returned or are still in the major cities locations though I know even the one at the airport (a major hub in Europe too) hasn't returned.  

Your comment: Sounds like me every time I take a walk in a new area and find an interesting location, I put off actually writing the details down and try to return some days/weeks later... only to find my memory isn't as excellent as I believe. Cities are the worse for me, every big city with decent planning and structured streets seems identical to me.

[bakasabo]

This is so so nice. I haven't tried yet but it seems very interesting to me. As far as I know, BATM is fully centralized, did it ask for any phone number or KYC documents from you while you using it? I did not use Bitcoin ATM due to my personal anonymity,

Ehh I really don't see how it's a nice thing. It just adds unnecessary steps for most peeps

At least in this ATM cash "works" in two directions, while most of ATMs allow you only to buy Bitcoin. I think for most people, 5% trading fee is acceptable, as lots of people dont trade huge amount and dont really think how much they spend on fees

Dont know how much is it cost to cash-out crypto in your country, but in my, it is about 3-10% and you have to arrange a meeting with "exchanger" before. Basically all the exchange looks: you text with a guy, you both agree on a deal, he or his colleague (sometimes he comes with a guard) drives to you or to a place, you sit in their car, make transaction by pc/phone, wait for few confirmations, and they give you cash out sports bag. This might look funny, like a movie, or a gangster stereotype. But that is how crypto or legal person turn company funds into cash in my country. (that scheme does not refer to hundreds-million deals)

But with such hybrid ATM, I can skip all that gangster steps and just use printed receipt. This is way more convenient and safe.