Cointelegraph By Arijit Sarkar
Crypto ATMs — one of the key infrastructure pillars for the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies — have seen a drastic reduction this year. In the first two months of 2023, the net cryptocurrency ATMs installed globally reduced by 412 machines.
Since 2014, the total number of crypto ATMs has maintained a steady upward trajectory while catering to millions of users worldwide for seamless crypto-fiat conversions. For over a year, between December 2020 and January 2022, more than 1,000 crypto and Bitcoin (BTC) ATMs were being installed every month. However, the bear market had an immediate impact on its growth.
September 2022 was the first time in history when total crypto ATMs saw a net decline. However, 2023 marked a new low by recording a decline in total crypto ATM installations for two consecutive months.
In January 2023, the global crypto ATM network shed 289 machines, further dropping by 123 machines in February. While the ongoing decline was initially purely attributed to geopolitical tensions, revenue losses and a prolonged bear market, service providers have been trying out cheaper alternatives for operations.
Recently, crypto ATM provider Bitcoin Depot converted its 7,000 physical machines to BitAccess software. The move helped reduce operational costs related to software licensing fees, which cost $3 million annual.
Do you have an ATM in your area and are unsure how to use it? Check out Cointelegraph’s beginner’s guide to learn everything about Bitcoin ATMs.
Related: UK-native stablecoin integrates into 18,000 ATMs nationwide
On the other hand, payments giant Mastercard partnered with Binance to launch a card for crypto payments in Latin America.
Olá, Brasil! #Binance Card has just launched in Brazil – another step towards crypto adoption pic.twitter.com/UJRmpMhpbQ
— Binance (@binance) January 30, 2023
In a press release shared with Cointelegraph, Guilherme Nazar, Binance Brazil’s general manager, stated:
“Payments is one of the first and most obvious use cases for crypto, yet adoption has a lot of room to grow.”
Moreover, at launch, the card offered up to 8% cash back in crypto on eligible purchases and zero fees on some ATM withdrawals.
