The short answer is true. Since Bitcoin ATMs are a safe and quick way to receive Bitcoin and cash, they come at a price.
A service fee or charge is imposed on customers who use a Bitcoin ATM. Rather than a fixed monetary amount, this fee is usually collected as a percentage of the transaction. Learn why they’re actually better than your regular banking fees down below!
What are Bitcoin ATM fees?
Service fees are collected in every major industry—restaurants, banking, and travel and tourism are just a few industries that charge similar service fees. These fees may also be used to reimburse the investment costs incurred by the operator or cover administrative and processing costs.
The same applies to Bitcoin ATMs since the Bitcoin ATM operator charges the service fee to sustain and provide a secure medium to buy and sell BTC. A transaction at a Bitcoin ATM normally entails a service charge of 7 to 15% and a spread applied directly to the Bitcoin price (this is specifically for ATMs that use exchanges to expedite their transfer).
Where All These Fees Come From - The Exchange Process Explained
A Bitcoin ATM fee includes the service fee charged by the operator for the transaction and the Network miner fee charged by Bitcoin Miners to process the transaction. All the fees are included in the final price of the Bitcoin sold or bought and displayed on the main screen of the ATM. Bitcoin ATMs update the fees and prices every 15 seconds to ensure users get an accurate value
Example of How Bitcoin ATM Fees Work
If you wish to buy exactly $200 worth of Bitcoin, you have to deposit an extra $20 to the machine to cover the fees. This $20 will approximately cover the ATM fee (approx. $14-$16) as well as the network miner fee (around $0.99 to $6.00).
Alternatively, if you put $200 into the machine, the fee will be subtracted from the total, leaving you with about $180 in Bitcoin in your account.
Do you pay fees when you buy or sell Bitcoin at online cryptocurrency exchanges?
Yes, any online cryptocurrency exchange does charge fees to complete a transaction.
- For example, Kraken, a leading online crypto exchange, charges 0% to 0.26% as fees per trade, 3.75% + $0.25 for credit card purchases, and up to $35-60 as withdrawal charges.
- Another leading crypto exchange, Binance, charges 0.02% to 0.10% as purchase and trading fees, 3% to 4.5% for debit card purchases, $15 per US wire transfer, and $10 plus 3.5% as additional withdrawal fees.
- Other crypto exchanges usually charge more than these fees as mentioned above.
These fees vary depending on your location and whether you are a new user or a VIP level user. Hence, it is clear that even online crypto exchanges charge hefty fees to complete Bitcoin buy and sell transactions, and they take more time and are not secure compared to Bitcoin ATMs.
Is it safe to keep your coins at cryptocurrency online exchanges?
No, it is not safe to store Bitcoins at online exchanges. It's vital to understand that keeping cryptocurrency in an exchange wallet differs from keeping it in your wallet. Exchange wallets are exchange-provided depository accounts. The user of this wallet type does not hold the private key to the cryptocurrency in this wallet.
Your coins would be stolen if the exchange were to be hacked or if your account was breached. Cryptocurrency exchanges do not provide SIPC and FDIC insurance. As previously stated, keeping substantial sums of cryptocurrency in any hot wallet, particularly an online exchange account, is not recommended.
Are there any options to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies without fees?
It is nearly impossible to buy or sell Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies without paying a fee. You can't withdraw funds from an online exchange platform or transfer them from one wallet to another without incurring a network charge.
There are also the Bitcoin transaction fees, which charge for a transaction to be accepted into the Bitcoin network. Banking fees and currency conversion costs are also the charges which have to be paid while transacting online and cannot be avoided. Some online crypto exchanges offer a minimal fee to attract more users, but how secure they are is still very uncertain.
What are the advantages of using a Bitcoin ATM for buying and selling Bitcoin?
Along with providing the most secure and quick mode of transacting Bitcoins, Bitcoin ATMs also have the following advantages:
Ensures Total Privacy
To ensure compliance with the bank's KYC/AML criteria, customers must tie their bank account information while transacting online on a crypto exchange platform. This implies online crypto exchanges have total access to your personal and financial records.
Users of online exchanges must have a bank account linked to their account to buy or sell Bitcoins. This will hamper a majority of users who wish to remain private.
Bitcoin ATMs allow you to remain confidential while transacting. Here, you convert cash to Bitcoin without revealing any financial information such as your credit/debit card number or bank account number.
Customer Oriented
It could sometimes take days or even one whole week to reach out to someone who can help you with your online Bitcoin exchange transactions. Users must fill out a ticket and wait patiently for their turn, which can be tedious and unpleasant.
If you face any doubts when using a Bitcoin ATM, the customer service will be readily available and support you. This is a fantastic feature, especially for beginners who can be assured that their coins will be purchased and sold properly.
How do Bitcoin ATMs work?
A Bitcoin ATM differs from a conventional automated teller machine (ATM). Traditional ATMs allow bank customers to withdraw physically, deposit, or transfer monies from their accounts. On the other hand, Bitcoin ATMs connect the customer to a Bitcoin wallet or exchange directly and generate blockchain-based transactions that transmit this cryptocurrency to a user's digital wallet, commonly via a QR code. You can purchase and sell Bitcoin without having to provide AML or KYC information. Customers do not need a debit card or credit card to make transactions since only cash is used to buy Bitcoins. This is one of the features that makes them anonymous because it hides users' identities.
Bitcoin ATMs come with biometric scanners built in to check users and approve transactions. To gain access to your wallet, it checks your fingerprints. Furthermore, the scanner verifies the QR code on your phone or the created ticket before moving on to the next step of the procedure.
If a user wishes to sell Bitcoin, a government ID and mobile number are scanned by a Bitcoin ATM, which transfers payments to and from a Bitcoin address. A verification text is provided to the user's phone and a Bitcoin address to which the payments can be deposited. The cash will subsequently be given to the user.
If the user wishes to buy Bitcoin, however, they must first deposit cash into the machine and complete the transaction, after which Bitcoins are directly issued to the buyer's wallet (through a scanned QR code on the buyer's mobile device or a paper wallet).
This process is what makes Bitcoin ATMs safe and anonymous.
Transaction Time at Bitcoin ATM
The interaction between the Bitcoin ATM and your Bitcoin transaction is greatly influenced by blockchain traffic. Your transaction will take longer to approve if you opt to buy or sell Bitcoin while the Bitcoin network is overloaded (i.e., many pending transactions on the blockchain). It normally takes 10 minutes for miners to receive one confirmation for your transaction.
To complete a transaction, you'll need 3-6 confirmations from miners. This is where the majority of your transaction's waiting time occurs. The network, not the Bitcoin ATM operator, is responsible here. Bitcoin is growing in popularity every day, which means transactions will take longer, but there will also be more miners working around the clock to approve these transactions.
Why is Bitcoin ATM the safest and the most anonymous way to buy and sell Bitcoin?
Below are the reasons why Bitcoin ATMs are growing in popularity.
You Change Your Money Quickly
Since Bitcoin ATMs are established physically in multiple places, it provides the ability to change your cash into Bitcoin in person instantaneously.
You Receive Cash in Person
Similarly, when you sell Bitcoin using Bitcoin ATMs, you can receive the cash in person instantaneously.
The Fees Are Comparable with Online Exchanges
In many cases, the fees charged by Bitcoin ATM are on par with the fees charged by many Online crypto exchanges. Moreover, the fees are justified by the best-in-class service.
How to Receive Cash or Coins Today with Bitcoin ATMs
You can visit the nearest Bitcoin ATM to instantly buy or sell Bitcoins and receive coins or cash in return. To understand more about how it works, please visit our page.
Where is the closest Bitcoin ATM near you?
You can visit our page Find crypto ATM to find the closest Bitcoin ATMs near you. Our website also has a list of locations in different states in the US where you can find a Bitcoin ATM.
Conclusion
Bitcoin ATMs are here to stay since the demand for digital currencies like Bitcoin keeps growing worldwide. Bitcoin ATM fees are part of using the quality service provided by reputable Bitcoin ATM operators who ensure you get the fastest and safe transaction experience.
