📱 Best Platforms
Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, General Bytes
📖 The Hustle
Bitcoin ATMs let people buy cryptocurrency with cash and charge 8-15% in fees per transaction — far more than the $2.50 flat fee on regular ATMs. Buy a Bitcoin ATM ($5,000-$10,000), place it in a convenience store or smoke shop where crypto-curious customers already shop, and keep it stocked with Bitcoin. The average transaction is $200-$500, earning you $16-$75 per transaction. Bitcoin ATMs require more compliance (KYC/AML, money transmitter licenses in some states) but the unit economics are dramatically better than traditional ATMs.
🚀 First Step
Research your state's money transmitter license requirements at your state's banking department website, then get a quote from General Bytes or Coinflip for a Bitcoin ATM.
🔑 Keys to Success
- Check your state's money transmitter licensing requirements before buying — some states require a license costing $1,000-$5,000 and a surety bond
- Use a turnkey operator like Coinflip that handles compliance, wallet management, and Bitcoin liquidity so you focus on finding locations and collecting fees
- Place machines in areas with limited bank access and a tech-savvy demographic — near college campuses, international neighborhoods, and convenience stores in diverse areas
🛠 Tools & Resources: Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, General Bytes, Chainalysis (compliance), state banking department websites