Walmart has partnered with Coinstar and crypto-cash exchange Coinme to deliver bitcoin ATMs to 200 locations across the United States.
Walmart’s test program was established in collaboration with Coinstar, according to Molly Blakeman, Walmart’s communications director.
“Coinstar, in collaboration with Coinme, has established a test program that allows its users to buy bitcoin using cash,” said Blakeman. “This pilot includes 200 Coinstar kiosks that are positioned within Walmart shops across the United States.”
According to several sources, the initial trial period will only include 200 ATMs, but the launch is part of a larger plan to install 8,000 bitcoin ATMs across the country.
In the United States, there are over 25,000 bitcoin ATMs in supermarkets and gas stations, and Coinstar has 4,400 bitcoin kiosks in 33 states.
Customers who want to use the bitcoin ATMs must have a Coinme wallet or create one at the machine. According to the Coinstar website, the cost of exchanging Bitcoin is 4%, plus an additional 7% for converting the eCurrency into cash.
People who do not have a Coinme wallet can still deposit paper money and set up a Coinme account using the redemption code that is returned.
According to Coin ATM Data, Bitcoin ATMs were initially introduced in the United States roughly seven years ago. As of the end of August, the United States had about 50,000 terminals while Hong Kong had 130.
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