Cryptocurrency haven Malta has just seen the launch of its first two-way bitcoin automatic teller machine.
Malta Continues to Make Moves
The Maltese machine is located at the Quickelts head office on the Sliema seafront and opened to an event reportedly attended by a variety of market experts and blockchain enthusiasts. At the event, a demonstration on how to use the island nation’s first bitcoin ATM was provided.
As reported by Times of Malta, the ATM “allows users to both sell and purchase cryptocurrencies in real time and currently offers bitcoin and litecoin,” with more cryptocurrencies expected to be added in the not-so-distant future. Interested Maltese residents new to the cryptocurrency market may now easily supply themselves with a paper wallet and both public and private keys.
Stated Quicklets founder and CEO Steve Mercieca:
Quicklets has always been at the forefront of supporting new technologies in the market. This is the second cryptocurrency ATM the QLZH Group is hosting in its offices. We believe that this is a vision in the future showing us what one day will become an everyday means of transaction.
The ATM machine is operated my Moon Zebra, a Maltese startup specializing in the setup and operation of cryptocurrency ATMs. Mercieca said of the company:
When we were approached by Moon Zebra to set up this ATM in our head office we were immediately convinced as this falls perfectly in line with the prop-tech strategy we run our business on.
Popping up Everywhere
Malta isn’t the only place installing new Bitcoin ATM machines.
2133 cryptocurrency ATMs currently exist in the United States. As noted by Detroit Free Press, there were 80 bitcoin ATMs in metro Detroit and about a dozen elsewhere throughout Michigan.
Meanwhile, Canada houses 602, the United Kingdom has 166, and Austria has 144.
On June 20, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport confirmed the installation of a cryptocurrency ATM offering both Bitcoin and Ethereum — thus becoming the first European airport to offer cryptocurrency exchange options via an ATM.
While not every country in the world has a Bitcoin ATM, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find one which fits that criteria.
What do you think about Malta installing its first Bitcoin ATM? Is there a Bitcoin ATM where you live? Let us know in the comments below!
Images courtesy of Shutterstock.
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