Bitcoin ATMs are a rapidly growing presence in the United States and, some experts say, a rapidly growing cybercrime menace. ATMs dealing in bitcoin are similar to their cash cousins: there are PINs to punch and withdrawal fees, just like any other ATM.
Unlike cash ATMs, though, the high value of crypto makes them prime targets for hackers. So, while a cash ATM tucked away between the snack cakes and energy drinks at a gas station may not draw much attention, a bitcoin ATM gets more scrutiny from bad actors.
“It’s clear that these machines are particularly vulnerable to both physical and cyber threats, making them a prime target for hackers and thieves,” said Timothy Bates, clinical professor of cybersecurityat the University of Michigan’s College of Innovation and Technology.
Bitcoin ATMs can be susceptible to attacks where hackers install malware on the machines to capture private keys, steal funds, or manipulate transactions, which Bates said is “especially concerning for ATMs that may not receive regular software updates or security patches.” Network vulnerabilities are also a weak spot. “If the machine’s network communications are not adequately secured, attackers can intercept data transfers between the ATM and the server, leading to data theft or unauthorized access,” Bates said.
Whether it’s hackers or scammers, the government is sounding the alarm about bitcoin ATMs. The Federal Trade Commission reported this week that scam incidents have risen by 1,000% since 2020.
Ironically, a bitcoin ATM’s risks are directly related to its strengths, according to Joe Dobson, principal analyst at Mandiant, a Google Cloud-owned cybersecurity company. Bitcoin is decentralized, permission-less, and immutable. “A transaction cannot be reversed or recalled if funds are deposited to the wrong address,” Dobson said. And while many crypto bulls find bitcoin’s lack of governance appealing, that can be problematic in ATMs. “There is no governing body within bitcoin dictating who can or cannot run a bitcoin ATM, hence many independent organizations operate the ATMs,” Dobson said.
There are also old criminal tricks that might be reversible in a traditional banking situation, but in the world of bitcoin, that is not so. For example, someone could maliciously slip their personal deposit slips into the stack at the bank, tricking folks into depositing money into their account. “A similar attack can happen with bitcoin ATMs,” Dobson said. “If an attacker compromises a bitcoin ATM, they may change the receiving wallet address (or ‘account number’), effectively stealing user funds.”
But in addition to old tricks, there are newer threats bitcoin ATMs introduce that cash ATMs do not face. Many bitcoin ATMs require personally identifiable information, such as an ID or even a Social Security number to comply with financial industry Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. This information could be at risk if a bitcoin ATM is compromised.
In Middletown, Ohio, at the Middletown Food Mart in a hollowed-out end of town, a Bitcoin Depot ATM sits opposite a regular cash ATM, blending in among the potato chips, bottled water, and beer. Middletown’s claim to fame lately is as the hometown of Donald Trump’s running mate Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who has refashioned himself, similar to Trump, as a pro-cryptocurrency warrior. The Middletown Food Mart sits across the street from where Vance grew up.
‘Elon Musk told me to do it.’
Sai Patel, whose family owns Middletown Food Mart, says the bitcoin ATM isn’t very busy.
“Maybe once a month someone comes in to use it,” Patel said. And if it is someone new, Patel will patiently explain how the machine works. He also keeps an eye out for unusual activity. Although the bitcoin ATM isn’t exactly drawing crowds, Patel says a surprising number of senior citizens show up at the kiosk, alarming given the rise of bitcoin ATM scams targeting seniors.
“Elderly people come in and use it,” Patel said.
He described one encounter where an elderly woman entered his shop and headed for the bitcoin ATM, then attempted to send a lot of money somewhere but had questions about using the machine. When Patel asked the woman a few questions as to why, she said, “Elon Musk told me to do it.” Patel quickly realized she had fallen prey to a scam. “I told her, no, no, no, it’s a scam,” Patel said, and he stopped her from dumping her life savings into the machine.
Alice Frei, head of security and compliance at blockchain communications & consulting agency Outset PR, says bitcoin ATM fraud is costly, enhanced by the sometimes shadowy world of crypto.
“Cryptocurrencies are easily exchanged online, often without clear identification of the parties involved. Criminals exploit this anonymity and move money almost invisibly, often employing techniques such as cross-blockchain ‘bridges’ to further obscure transactions,” she said.
And then there’s the fact that an ATM scam probably doesn’t originate in the town where it occurs. “Many crypto exchanges involved in these activities are based offshore, beyond the reach of regulators, making it difficult to trace and recover stolen funds,” Frei added.
Basic steps to avoid bitcoin ATM scams
To protect against these scams, users should be cautious and skeptical of any request to pay through a bitcoin ATM. Legitimate businesses rarely, if ever, demand payment in bitcoin through a machine.
“Verifying the legitimacy of a transaction, particularly checking the recipient’s wallet for connections to questionable entities is crucial,” Frei said, adding that users should also use licensed ATMs from reputable operators to reduce the risk.
Frei said there are steps that users can take to verify the ownership and legitimacy of a bitcoin ATM or parties involved in transactions.
“You can verify the recipient address by checking for flagged activity on platforms like Chainabuse and running an AML check on the address using available tools,” she said, If these tools show the risk score above 70%, it’s advisable to avoid sending money. “Instead, contact the ATM operator or the person who provided the address to clarify the situation,” Frei added.
According to Frei, data shows that nearly 74% of ATMs globally are managed by just 10 operators.
The largest operator of bitcoin ATMs, Bitcoin Depot, operates over 8,000 ATMs. Its CEO Brandon Mintz says the company’s machines are designed to deter hackers. But he also disputes the claims that bitcoin ATMs are major hacking targets.
“Bitcoin ATMs aren’t typically high-priority targets for cybercriminals due to the separation of the hardware and the bitcoin wallet environments,” Mintz said. Bitcoin Depot does not store any bitcoin locally at a bitcoin ATM, and there are many layers of verification and approval processes that prevent unauthorized access to the Bitcoin Depot wallet, he said.
Additionally, Mintz said, most bitcoin ATMs, including Bitcoin Depot’s, only accept cash, so this removes the ability for criminals to use card skimmers like they can install on traditional cash ATMs. However, he says users do need to be aware of scams, and some of the same basic protocols that protect consumers from old-fashioned financial scams apply to the world of cryptocurrency as well.
“Customers of bitcoin ATMs should never send bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies to unknown digital wallets or individuals they don’t know and trust. It’s important to remain vigilant and skeptical of anyone asking for cryptocurrency payments, especially if the request comes with a sense of urgency or threat,” Mintz said.
As the market leader, Bitcoin Depot has been a target of litigation and the company disclosed in its S-1 filing before going public that its users “have been and could be targeted in cybersecurity incidents like an account takeover.” A South Carolina woman sued Bitcoin Depot after falling victim to an alleged cryptocurrency scam. In another instance, authorities in Texas intervened to return money from a Bitcoin Depot ATM after a woman fell victim to a scam.
And that points to a central irony of bitcoin and the bitcoin ATM, products of technology, but ones where the most powerful weapon against fraud isn’t more technology but responsibility, Dobson said. “User responsibility is paramount in cryptocurrency. There is little recompense if something goes awry. The onus is largely on the user to take steps.”
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during an announcement regarding his administration’s policies against cartels and human trafficking, from the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Oct. 23, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
China on Thursday concluded its “Fourth Plenum,” a meeting aimed at setting out the country’s development agenda for the next five years. Beijing will focus on domestic consumption, self-reliance in technology as well as the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
In the U.S. economy and markets — generally considered the exemplar of free-market capitalism — the government’s handprints have started becoming visible, if you squint a little.
Trump, who terminated trade negotiations with Canada over an ad, pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, the White House said Thursday. Zhao was convicted in April 2024 for enabling money laundering at Binance.
The Wall Street Journal reported in August that the Trump family’s crypto venture has been helped by “a partnership with an under-the-radar trading platform quietly administered by Binance.”
Even corporate earnings had the mark of the White House.
But it’s hard to ignore the elephant in the room, that is, the U.S. government’s 10% stake in the company, acquired in August. The company’s stock has seen a massive surge since that acquisition, with President Donald Trump saying the government has made $30 billion to $40 billion on its stake. The transaction, however, complicates Intel’s accounting practices for its income, the company suggested in a press release.
Trump’s proclivity for acquiring stakes in U.S. companies and his other dealings that seem to blur the personal with the professional raise the question: are we seeing a four-year U.S. economic plan — with a twist — unfold?
What you need to know today
Trump terminates trade talks with Canada. The U.S. president appeared to take umbrage with an ad, aired by Ontario provincial government, featuring Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Trump also accused Canada of attempting to influence the U.S. Supreme Court’s case regarding tariffs.
[PRO] Time to consider dividend stocks, CIO says. As interest rates come down, in accordance with market expectations, such stocks should get a boost, according to Kevin Simpson, founder and chief investment officer at Capital Wealth Planning.
And finally…
A shopper looks at produce at a grocery store in West Milton, Ohio, US, on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during an announcement regarding his administration’s policies against cartels and human trafficking, from the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Oct. 23, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
China on Thursday concluded its “Fourth Plenum,” a meeting aimed at setting out the country’s development agenda for the next five years. Beijing will focus on domestic consumption, self-reliance in technology as well as the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
In the U.S. economy and markets — generally considered the exemplar of free-market capitalism — the government’s fingerprints have started becoming visible, if you squint a little.
For instance, Intel reported third-quarter revenue that surpassed analysts’ expectations, helping the stock jump 7.7% in extended trading. Intel said demand for its processors appears to be recovering.
But it’s hard to ignore the elephant in the room, that is, the U.S. government’s 10% stake in the company, acquired in August. The company’s stock has seen a massive surge since that acquisition, with President Donald Trump saying the government has made $30 billion to $40 billion on its stake. The transaction, however, complicates Intel’s accounting practices for its income, the company suggested in a press release.
Trump, meanwhile, pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, the White House said Thursday. Zhao was convicted in April 2024 for enabling money laundering at Binance.
When asked why Trump pardoned Zhao, the president said, “A lot of people say that he wasn’t guilty of anything. And so I gave him a pardon at the request of a lot of very good people.”
The Wall Street Journal reported in August that the Trump family’s crypto venture has been helped by “a partnership with an under-the-radar trading platform quietly administered by Binance.”
Trump’s proclivity for acquiring stakes in U.S. companies and his other dealings raise the question: are we seeing a four-year U.S. economic plan — with a twist — unfold?
What you need to know today
Intel beats revenue expectations. Third-quarter sales came in at $13.65 billion, higher than the $13.14 billion from an LSEG consensus estimate. Intel added that demand for its chips outstripped supply.
China to encourage consumption over the next five years. Top government leaders emphasized the need to “vigorously boost consumption” in the domestic economy, a readout of China’s “Fourth Plenum” meeting said, according to a CNBC translation.
[PRO] Time to consider dividend stocks, CIO says. As interest rates come down, in accordance with market expectations, such stocks should get a boost, according to Kevin Simpson, founder and chief investment officer at Capital Wealth Planning.
And finally…
Russian President Vladimir Putin observes the Russia-Belarus joint military exercises, codenamed Zapad-2025 (West-2025), at the Mulino training ground in the Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia September 16, 2025.
Just days after a “very productive” phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Trump changed tack on Wednesday, voicing his frustration with Moscow. “We canceled the meeting with President Putin. It just, it didn’t feel right to meet,” he said Wednesday.
Trump’s comments on Putin were not highlighted by pro-Kremlin state media outlets such as TASS, Radio Sputnik and RIA Novosti on Thursday, with barely a mention of the criticism or the canceled meeting.
Signage outside Applied Materials headquarters in Santa Clara, California, U.S., on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Chip equipment manufacturer Applied Materials is laying off 4% of its workforce.
The company on Thursday began notifying impacted employees around the world “across all levels and groups,” it said in a filing. Applied Materials provides equipment, services and software to industries, including the semiconductor industry.
Applied Materials had approximately 36,100 full-time employees, according to an August 2025 filing. A layoff of 4% would represent about 1,444 employees.
“Automation, digitalization and geographic shifts are redefining our workforce needs and skill requirements,” the company wrote in the filing. “With this in mind, we have been focused for some time on building high-velocity, high-productivity teams, adopting new technologies and simplifying organizational structures.”
The move comes at the end of the company’s fiscal year. Earlier this month, the Applied Materials forecasted a $600 million hit to fiscal 2026 revenue after the U.S. expanded its restricted export list. That resulted in company shares to dipping 3% in extended trading.
As a result of the workforce reduction, Applied Materials expects to incur charges of approximately $160 million to $180 million, consisting primarily of severance and other one-time employment termination benefits to be paid in cash, the filing states.
The company said the cuts are a way to position itself “as a more competitive and productive organization.”