Austria Installs Bitcoin ATMs In MediaMarkt Stores

Austria installs 12 crypto ATMs. (Bitbase)

JAKARTA – A total of 12 Bitcoin ATMs have been installed in a number of locations in Austria. including in Seiersberg and Klagenfurt. The crypto ATM was launched by Kurant as a line of Coinfinity, a company that manages more than 200 Bitcoin ATMs spread across various European countries including Austria, Germany, Greece, and Spain.

The twelve crypto ATMs are located in various MediaMarkt stores in Austria. The information was conveyed by Kurant Europe's Head of Marketing & Sales, Thomas Sperneder.

“MediaMarkt stores across the country have been equipped with Bitcoin vending machines. In total, it is now present in twelve markets and allows simple and secure purchasing of cryptocurrencies,” said Sperneder.

A successful pilot project featuring the only Bitcoin ATM in a MediaMarkt store proved that “Bitcoin ATMs in stores offer an opportunity to attract new customers.” Sperneder explained to Cointelegraph that “Bitcoin and cryptocurrency purchases are associated with digital savvy people,” but ATMs offer another alternative.

“In order to get Bitcoin easily and safely, the vending machines open up a low-threshold alternative for purchasing cryptocurrencies,” he added.

Prior to installing the crypto ATM, MediaMarkt partnered with Coinfinity, an Austrian Bitcoin company, to manage the pilot and subsequent ATM launch.

Bitcoin ATMs offer a means to cash out BTC or deposit fiat for Bitcoin enthusiasts. By simply scanning the wallet address, they can receive satoshi (the smallest denomination of BTC) or cash.

For Sperneder, hosting Bitcoin ATMs in stores because it allows retailers to "participate financially in the stationary sale of the cryptocurrency." Given that Austria will be adding 12 more Bitcoin ATMs to a total of over 110, the rollout of Bitcoin ATMs in Europe is probably just getting started, Cointelegraph summarizes.