CoinFlip Bitcoin ATMs
Cash ATMs, passport accepted
- Fees
- 4.76-19.99% markup
- Minimum
- $20 first buy
- You need
- ID or passport + phone
Buy crypto
on the CoinFlip website
on the CoinFlip website
Bitcoin ATMs: how they work, fees, ID and scams
A bitcoin ATM is a kiosk that takes your cash and sends crypto to a wallet. It is fast but expensive: CoinFlip fees average 4.76-19.99% of the price, and Coinstar kiosks with Coinme charge 13.04-22.5%. If someone on the phone told you to go to a bitcoin ATM to pay, protect your money or fix a problem, it is a scam.
Send bitcoin only to a wallet you opened yourself, never to an address someone gave you on the phone. Bitcoin's price goes up and down, and after the fee you start with less than you paid.
Step by step
- 1
Find a machine and see what it does
Use the operator's map: the CoinFlip locator shows whether a machine is buy-only or also buys crypto for cash. Every CoinFlip machine sells bitcoin, and other coins depend on the location. Coinme works at more than 6,000 Coinstar kiosks.
- 2
Open your own wallet
The machine sends crypto to a wallet address, so open your wallet app before you go and tap Receive to show its QR code. Use only a wallet that you own. If someone sends you a QR code or an address to use at the machine, it is a scam. With Coinme, the crypto goes to your wallet in the Coinme app.
- 3
Verify with your phone and ID
At CoinFlip you enter your phone number and a one-time code from a text message. For an account with higher limits you must be 18 or older and show a valid ID such as a driver's license or passport, and at certain limits you may be asked for proof of where the money came from. At Coinme you verify in the app with a US-issued photo ID and a selfie, or with an SSN for the highest limits.
- 4
Insert cash and check the price
At CoinFlip the first purchase starts at $20, and $1 bills are not accepted. The screen shows the price with the markup, and a network fee from $2.49 comes on top. At a Coinstar kiosk with a 16.5% fee, $100 in cash buys $83.50 of bitcoin.
- 5
Wait for the crypto and keep the receipt
At CoinFlip, crypto usually reaches your wallet within 30 minutes, and the receipt comes by text and email. Transactions are final: unless a state law requires a refund, you cannot get the money back. Keep the receipt for taxes and in case of a dispute.
- 6
Stop if a caller sent you
Scammers pose as the government, a company or tech support, tell you to take cash out of the bank and send you to a bitcoin ATM, often with a QR code. In the first half of 2024 alone, people reported more than $65 million lost through bitcoin ATMs to the FTC, with a median loss of $10,000. Hang up and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Bitcoin ATMs and cash kiosks
Both take cash. CoinFlip accepts a passport, while Coinme at Coinstar accepts only US-issued IDs. Their fees run 4.76-22.5%, while the apps below charge 0-2.2% plus a spread.
Coinme
Cash at Coinstar kiosks
- Fees
- 13.04-22.5% at Coinstar
- You need
- SSN or US photo ID
- Cryptocurrencies
- BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP and more
Buy crypto
on the Coinme website
on the Coinme website
Cheaper: buy bitcoin in an app
If you have a bank account and an SSN or ITIN, an app costs much less. Cash App charges 0-2% plus a spread of up to 0.75%, Strike 0.89% or less plus a spread of about 0.22%, Venmo 1.5-2.2%, and recurring buys at River are free after 7 days. River is only for US citizens and green card holders.
Cash App Bitcoin
Bitcoin with an ITIN
- Fees
- 0-2% + spread up to 0.75%
- Minimum
- $1
- You need
- Last 4 of SSN or ITIN
Buy crypto
on the Cash App website
on the Cash App website
Strike
Bitcoin with low fees
- Fees
- 0.89% or less + spread
- Transfer fee
- Free withdrawals to your wallet
- You need
- Tax ID + photo ID
Buy crypto
on the Strike website
on the Strike website
Venmo Crypto
Crypto for Venmo users
- Fees
- 1.5-2.2% + spread
- Minimum
- $1
- You need
- SSN or ITIN
Buy crypto
on the Venmo website
on the Venmo website
River
Recurring bitcoin buys
- Fees
- $0 on recurring buys
- You need
- Citizenship or green card
- Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin only
Buy crypto
on the River website
on the River website
Questions people ask
How does a bitcoin ATM work?
You choose the coin and amount, enter your phone number and a one-time code, scan the QR code of your own wallet and insert cash. The machine sends the crypto to that wallet; at CoinFlip it usually arrives within 30 minutes. Some machines also buy crypto back for cash.
How much does a bitcoin ATM charge?
Much more than an app. CoinFlip fees average 4.76-19.99% plus a network fee, and Coinstar kiosks with Coinme charge 13.04-22.5%. In Cash App the fee is 0-2% plus a spread of up to 0.75%.
Do you need ID to use a bitcoin ATM?
Yes, at some point. CoinFlip starts with a phone number and a one-time code, an account with higher limits needs an ID such as a driver's license or passport, and at certain limits CoinFlip may ask for proof of where the money came from. At Coinme, an ID and a selfie allow up to $2,900 in cash a day, and an SSN up to $5,000.
What is the bitcoin ATM limit per day?
It depends on the operator, the state and how you verified. At Coinstar kiosks with Coinme the limit is $5,000 a day and $30,000 a month, and without an SSN up to $2,900 in cash a day. At CoinFlip you get higher limits after you register an account.
Can I get my money back from a bitcoin ATM?
Usually not: crypto transactions are final unless a state law requires a refund. If it was a scam, call the operator right away and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. CoinFlip refunds its transaction fee when a scam is reported and verified, if you file within 90 days.
Someone told me to pay at a bitcoin ATM. Is it a scam?
Yes. Only scammers demand payment in crypto. Government agencies, utilities and tech support do not send you to a bitcoin ATM to pay a fine, fix a problem or protect your savings.