Main Bitcoin ATM installer in Europe, Kurant, is pausing operations in Germany because it’s ready for a brand new license underneath the EU’s newest rules.
Whereas the corporate made it clear this isn’t a everlasting measure, the transfer is taking many of the Federal Republic’s crypto teller machines out of service.
Bitcoin is unavailable at ATMs throughout Germany
Kurant, the Austrian agency that presently runs the best variety of cryptocurrency ATMs in Europe, is quickly halting operations in Germany.
Ranging from July 1, Bitcoin will not be out there for buy at ATM areas throughout the nation, the German crypto information outlet BTC Echo reported, quoting a press launch on Monday. The corporate has a pending utility for a license underneath the European Union’s new Markets in Crypto Property (MiCA) regulation, and that has been cited as the principle cause for its choice.
Kurant’s ATMs will probably be out of service till the licensing course of is accomplished, the announcement revealed. No data was offered as to how lengthy that is going to take. Whereas informing customers it’s taking “a brief break,” the operator famous it wants it to organize for the brand new MiCA necessities, which “contain main technical and authorized modifications.”
In an announcement, its Managing Director, Stefan Grill, described the introduction of the set of EU guidelines as “an vital step in the direction of regulating the crypto market,” which he welcomed. He additionally assured:
“We have now already initiated the mandatory measures to completely adjust to the brand new requirements.”
Grill added that the non permanent pause of companies was a “accountable and essential” transfer to make sure a easy and protected transition.
“We’re taking this step early to be greatest ready for the brand new regulatory framework – guaranteeing a fair higher person expertise sooner or later,” Kurant defined on its web site.
Transactions initiated earlier than July 1 will probably be accomplished as traditional, and no new transactions will probably be potential till operations resume, the corporate highlighted, with out offering a selected date for that, though it promised prospects to put up well timed updates.
Kurant to relaunch with new options
As soon as it secures a MiCA license, Kurant intends to restart its machines with new options and choices. “This features a broader product vary and improved companies,” it acknowledged.
With over 300 units, the corporate is Europe’s prime operator of teller machines supporting cryptocurrencies. Greater than half of these are in Germany, which has a bit of over 150 Bitcoin ATMs in whole, based on the monitoring web site Coin ATM Radar.
Kurant made it clear that the pause just isn’t affecting different EU nations the place it maintains a presence:
“Because the European market chief, we’ll proceed providing our companies with out interruption in Austria and Spain. Naturally, prospects in these nations will even profit from the upcoming new options.”
The Austrian agency is a significant participant on the Previous Continent, however the area as a complete is but to meet up with North America when it comes to crypto ATM numbers.
With greater than 30,000 areas, the USA remains to be the unchallenged world chief, accounting for over three-quarters of the world’s whole, which now exceeds 38,000.
However, Bitcoin ATM installations in Europe have seen a gentle development over the previous decade and are presently at their all-time excessive, with almost 1,800 machines as of July 1, 2025.
On common, a brand new cryptocurrency ATM is launched someplace within the European Union virtually day by day, as Cryptopolitan just lately reported.
In contrast to common financial institution ATMs, the Bitcoin teller machines (additionally abbreviated as BTMs) provide customers the chance to purchase, and in some circumstances additionally promote, main cryptocurrencies akin to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH). They’ve been providing a easy option to get into crypto.
