coinculture.com
Australia has recently achieved a significant milestone in the world of cryptocurrency, joining the exclusive club of countries with over 1,000 Bitcoin ATMs in operation. As of April 24, the country boasts a network of 1,002 active Bitcoin ATMs, marking it as the third nation, following the United States and Canada, to reach this milestone. This achievement underscores Australia’s growing prominence in the crypto landscape, with its Bitcoin ATM count now representing 2.7% of the global network.
The United States, with 31,170 machines, dominates the global Bitcoin ATM market, accounting for 82.8% of the total, while Canada follows with 2,918 machines, constituting 7.8% of the network. Australia’s journey towards this milestone has been remarkable, as it was previously considered a relatively inactive market for crypto ATMs. However, the tide has turned since the latter part of 2022, driven by increased involvement from private entities.
Australia’s ascent in the realm of cryptocurrency is further highlighted by its surpassing of Asia’s Bitcoin ATM count in April 2023. At its current rate of installation, Australia is poised to outstrip Europe, which currently holds 4.3% of all active Bitcoin ATMs, totaling 1,617 machines.
Beside Australia, several other countries also boast significant numbers of crypto ATMs, including Spain (261 machines), El Salvador (215), Poland (211), Germany (194), and Hong Kong (157). However, recent reports have raised concerns about cybersecurity in this sector, with hackers leaking part of El Salvador’s state-operated Chivo Bitcoin wallet’s source code.
“This time I bring you the code that is inside the Bitcoin Chivo Wallet ATMs in El Salvador, remember that it is a government wallet, and as you know, we do not sell, we publish everything for free for you,” the hacker group known as CiberInteligenciaSV wrote on a public forum.
This development underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard users’ assets and data in the burgeoning cryptocurrency space.