News Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Installs Europe’s First Airport Bitcoin ATM
Wilma Woo | Jun 20, 2018 | 08:00
The world’s eleventh-busiest airport has installed a “test” Bitcoin ATM in a move officials say will better “serve” travellers’ needs.
Schiphol Offers Bitcoin, Ethereum
In a press release on its website June 20, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport confirmed the installation of the machine, which will offer both Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Schiphol thus becomes the first European airport to offer cryptocurrency exchange options via an ATM.
“With the Bitcoin machine we hope to serve travelers because they can easily exchange ‘local’ euros for the ‘global’ Bitcoin or Ethereum,” Tanja Dik, director of consumer products and services commented.
This can be useful, because they can no longer make use of Euros in their home country, for example.
Bitcoin ATMs Continue To Expand
The announcement comes as cryptocurrency continues to cement itself in public consciousness in the Netherlands, with authorities reiterating the need to remain compliant last week as the number of entities dealing with crypto assets also grows.
Schiphol partnered with local software solutions provider ByeleX Data Solutions BV for its machine.
“We are delighted that Schiphol wants to work with us on how we can introduce the new cryptoreality to travelers,’ Byelex director Herman Vissia said.
The Netherlands currently has twenty operational cryptocurrency ATMs according to tracking resource CoinATMRadar.
Despite the country earning a name for itself as an early provider of Bitcoin payment accessibility, across Europe, its ATM tally still lags behind market leader the UK, which has a reported 152 machines.
Europe sports around one fifth of the world’s total ATM count, the vast majority remaining in North America. Providers have made outlandish claims about increasing the current total of 3000 by magnitudes, with an Argentinian endeavor planning to install a record 30,000 as the country’s regulatory climate eases.
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