ChainCatcher news, the Spanish company BitBase will install its first cryptocurrency ATM in Argentina in 2025, having allocated approximately $524,000 to support its entry into the Argentine market.The company has also hired 10 employees to work in the country and has reached partnership agreements with local businesses such as Bitcoin Argentina.

ChainCatcher news, according to TechCrunch, U.S. Bitcoin ATM operator Byte Federal has stated that in a recent hacking incident, the personal data of thousands of customers may have been compromised.Based in Florida, Byte Federal indicated in documents submitted to the Maine Attorney General that hackers attempted to access the data of 58,000 customers, including names, addresses, phone numbers, government-issued IDs, social security numbers, transaction activity, and user photos.The company reported that the breach occurred on September 30 and was discovered by Byte Federal on November 18. The company stated that an anonymous attacker exploited a vulnerability in third-party software to gain access to the company's network. The company mentioned in a blog post in November that the vulnerability existed in the developer platform GitLab.Byte Federal operates over 1,200 Bitcoin ATMs (electronic kiosks that allow you to buy and sell cryptocurrency) across the United States, and the company stated that it has performed a hard reset on all customer accounts and updated its internal passwords.

ChainCatcher news, Australia's national financial intelligence agency has listed cryptocurrency as a priority for the coming year and is establishing a new working group to crack down on cryptocurrency ATM providers that may violate anti-money laundering laws.In a statement on December 6, AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas said the government agency will shift its focus to the cryptocurrency industry in 2025. He stated, "Cryptocurrency and crypto ATMs are enticing avenues for criminals to launder money because they are easily accessible and allow for near-instant and irreversible transfers. This is the first step AUSTRAC is taking to reduce cryptocurrency crime in Australia. Next year, we will focus on this industry."According to AUSTRAC, the working group will focus on ensuring that crypto ATM operators meet minimum standards to minimize the risk of illegal cash being funneled through the machines. Leading cryptocurrency ATM providers in Australia include Coinflip, which has 680 ATMs; Localcoin, with 465 ATMs; and Cryptolink, with 75 ATMs.Crypto ATM operators have been required to register with AUSTRAC, conduct transaction monitoring, and perform Know Your Customer (KYC) information checks on users.

ChainCatcher news, according to official sources, Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining company Hut 8 has announced the launch of a $500 million ATM (at-the-market) program and a $250 million stock buyback plan. The company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of common stock under the ATM program for growth initiatives, including the acquisition or development of power and digital infrastructure assets such as data centers, as well as purchasing Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. The net proceeds may also be allocated to other capital expenditures and investments, working capital, repurchasing issued securities, repaying debt, and other general corporate purposes.

ChainCatcher news, on Thursday, the U.S. financial markets were closed for Thanksgiving, resulting in light trading and weak liquidity. Bitcoin experienced a strong rebound yesterday after some investors took profits, briefly rising to $97,200, and currently trading at $96,382, maintaining a steady defense of the $95,000 level, with a slight increase of 0.68% in the past 24 hours.Ethereum has shown strong performance recently, with the price breaking above $3,684 yesterday, reaching a new high in over five months, which boosted the prices of ecosystem tokens. The L2 and DeFi sectors performed well, and the market may officially welcome altcoin season. Currently, after a peak and pullback, Ethereum continues to oscillate in the $3,500 to $3,600 range, reporting $3,564 before the deadline, down 1.6% in 24 hours.In the forex market, the U.S. dollar index rebounded to 106.21 on Thursday after falling to a two-week low in the previous trading session. The euro fell against the dollar as traders reduced bets on further interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank, while the overall forex market was subdued due to the U.S. holiday. Gold prices rose, driven by geopolitical uncertainty and trade concerns, boosting safe-haven demand. Oil prices climbed on Thursday, supported by the situation between Israel and Lebanon and the delay of the OPEC+ meeting, with U.S. and Brent crude prices rising over 0.8% during trading.Due to the impact of the Thanksgiving holiday, the market trading atmosphere has become subdued, significantly reducing the likelihood of various asset prices breaking through existing range-bound movements. eeee.com is a financial trading platform that supports assets such as cryptocurrencies, stock indices, bulk gold, and forex, recently launching a USDT stablecoin financial product with an annualized yield of 5.5%, providing investors with a potential safe-haven option. 4E reminds you to pay attention to market volatility risks and to allocate assets wisely.

ChainCatcher news, Stacks founder Muneeb stated on the X platform that leading Bitcoin ATM Coinflip will integrate Stacks and sBTC.Coinflip has over 400,000 users, and this integration will continue to open the global market for Stacks.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, Atlanta-based crypto ATM manufacturer Bitcoin Depot has released financial reports showing that the company's revenue for the third quarter was $135.3 million, a decrease of 25% compared to $179.5 million in the third fiscal quarter of 2023.The company also reported holding over $1.31 million in cryptocurrency. According to the company's website, Bitcoin Depot has approximately 16,700 locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia.In August 2022, Bitcoin Depot went public with a valuation of $885 million. The company's Class A common stock (ticker symbol: BTM) is traded on NASDAQ, and as of 4:22 PM EST on November 15, its valuation was $1.99. Currently, its market capitalization is approximately $118.2 million.

ChainCatcher news, according to News.bitcoin, 45 new locations in five states in the United States will establish cryptocurrency ATMs.Convenience store chain Yesway is partnering with digital currency platform Coinflip to provide cryptocurrency ATMs for its customers, offering a seamless and secure way to buy and sell Bitcoin and other digital currencies in five states, including Texas and Iowa.As digital currency kiosks expand to 45 new locations in the Southwest and Midwest, cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly accessible across the United States.

ChainCatcher news, Habibur Rahman, a resident of East Ham in London, denied the charges of operating an unlicensed cryptocurrency ATM business and laundering money through cryptocurrency transactions. Rahman appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges of running illegal machines without authorization from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).Rahman is accused of exchanging £300,000 of illegal cash into cryptocurrency between April 1 and June 16, 2022. This was discovered after Kent Police searched a shop in Chatham on April 28, 2023, and seized several cryptocurrency ATM machines during the raid.The case has now been transferred to Maidstone Crown Court, with the next hearing scheduled for November 7. Police stated that Rahman's involvement in cryptocurrency trading not only violated financial regulations but also involved money laundering. He was granted bail after appearing in court and will await further developments in the coming weeks.

ChainCatcher news, according to a press release from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on Monday, Olumide Osunkoya has admitted to illegally operating a cryptocurrency ATM network, marking the UK's first conviction case involving cryptocurrency ATM operations. At a hearing held at Westminster Magistrates' Court, 45-year-old Olumide Osunkoya pleaded guilty to five charges.Sentencing for these offenses will take place at Southwark Crown Court, with a specific date to be determined.Previous news, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced on September 10 that charges had been brought against 45-year-old London resident Olumide Osunkoya for illegally operating multiple cryptocurrency ATMs that were not registered with the regulatory body.

ChainCatcher news, according to the Financial Times, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced on September 10 that it has charged 45-year-old London resident Olumide Osunkoya with illegally operating multiple cryptocurrency ATMs that are not registered with the regulatory agency. The FCA revealed that the ATMs operated by Osunkoya processed £2.6 million worth of cryptocurrency transactions between December 2021 and September 2023, with these ATMs located in multiple sites.The FCA stated that Osunkoya was a director of Gidiplus Ltd, whose registration application was rejected by the regulatory agency in 2021. Subsequently, Osunkoya began conducting related activities independently.

ChainCatcher news, according to CNBC, the number of Bitcoin ATMs is rapidly increasing in the United States, and some experts believe this has led to a growing threat of cybercrime. Bitcoin ATMs are similar to traditional cash ATMs: they require a PIN code and charge a withdrawal fee, just like other ATMs.However, unlike cash ATMs, the high value of cryptocurrencies makes them a primary target for hackers. Therefore, while a cash ATM hidden between snacks and energy drinks at a gas station may not attract much attention, Bitcoin ATMs are subject to more scrutiny from criminals."Clearly, these machines are particularly vulnerable to physical and cyber threats, making them prime targets for hackers and thieves," said Timothy Bates, a cybersecurity professor at the University of Michigan's School of Information.According to Frei, data shows that nearly 74% of ATMs worldwide are managed by 10 operators.The largest Bitcoin ATM operator, Bitcoin Depot, operates over 8,000 ATMs. Its CEO, Brandon Mintz, stated that the company's machines are designed to prevent hacking attempts. However, he also questioned the claim that Bitcoin ATMs are a primary target for hackers."Because the hardware and Bitcoin wallet environment are separate, Bitcoin ATMs are generally not a high-priority target for cybercriminals," Mintz said. He also noted that Bitcoin Depot does not store any Bitcoin locally on its ATMs and that the company has multiple layers of verification and approval processes to prevent unauthorized access to Bitcoin Depot's wallets.Additionally, Mintz pointed out that most Bitcoin ATMs (including Bitcoin Depot's ATMs) only accept cash, which eliminates the possibility of criminals using card readers on traditional cash ATMs. However, he also cautioned users to be vigilant against scams, as some basic protocols that protect consumers from traditional financial fraud also apply to the world of cryptocurrencies.

ChainCatcher News, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released data showing that economic losses suffered by consumers in Bitcoin ATM scams have surged dramatically. Since 2020, this loss amount has increased nearly tenfold.The latest data released by the FTC highlights that in just the first six months of 2024, Bitcoin ATM scams have resulted in over $65 million in fraud losses. Notably, seniors aged 60 and above are more than three times as likely to be harmed by these scams compared to younger adults. For the year as a whole, the average reported loss by consumers in the first half of this year has reached $10,000.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, Bitcoin ATMs are flooding into Australia, making the country the fastest-growing market for these machines, which has also raised questions about the sources of demand for this controversial service. According to Coin ATM Radar data, the United States dominates the market with approximately 32,000 cryptocurrency ATMs, followed by Canada with about 3,000. Australia ranks third with nearly 1,200 cryptocurrency ATMs, up from just 73 two years ago, and more ATMs are under construction.In a call with analysts in August, Bitcoin Depot Inc. CEO Brandon Mintz stated that the company has over 200 cryptocurrency ATMs in Australia awaiting deployment after regulatory approval. Coin ATM Radar data shows that Australia's recent growth is leading globally. Operators believe these machines promote financial inclusion by providing convenient access to cryptocurrency. However, critics point out the risks of money laundering and potential losses due to fraud against users. Countries like the UK and Singapore have banned these machines, while Germany is conducting crackdowns.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin Magazine, retail banking company NCR Atleos has enabled Bitcoin withdrawals at ATMs through LibertyX, with the bank operating over 30,000 ATMs.

ChainCatcher news, according to a report by Coindesk, the latest report from blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs shows that since 2019, the cash-to-crypto industry, primarily driven by cryptocurrency ATMs, has processed at least $160 million in illegal transactions.In 2023, illegal transfers to known scam addresses through cash-to-crypto services reached as high as $30 million, accounting for 79%.The report points out that global law enforcement agencies are increasingly concerned about the growth of cryptocurrency ATM usage. Recently, Germany's financial regulator BaFin shut down 13 cryptocurrency ATMs and seized approximately $280,000 in cash. Similar actions have been taken in countries like the UK and the US.TRM Labs emphasizes that cryptocurrency ATMs face additional money laundering risks due to their use of cash and the lack of face-to-face interaction or account controls. Notably, in 2023, 13% of digital asset fraud cases involving individuals over 60 were related to Bitcoin ATMs.Although the US has shut down over 1,000 machines since May, it still has the most cryptocurrency ATMs in the world, with over 31,000. The number of cryptocurrency ATMs in Australia has increased 17-fold in two years, potentially making it the third-largest market globally.

ChainCatcher news, the UK police have released the country's first cryptocurrency ATM indictment after accusing a resident of operating an illegal cryptocurrency ATM and laundering £300,000 ($395,000).The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a cryptocurrency ATM ban in 2022, warning machine operators that they must be registered with the FCA. Subsequently, the regulator launched a crackdown on unregistered cryptocurrency ATMs.The FCA emphasized in the indictment: "There are currently no cryptocurrency ATMs registered with the FCA, so if you use one of these machines, you may be handing your money over to criminals."

ChainCatcher news, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) of Germany recently launched a nationwide operation against unlicensed cryptocurrency ATMs. This operation seized 13 cryptocurrency ATMs and $28 million in cash. The action took place on August 20 and involved 35 locations that reportedly operated unlicensed crypto ATMs.BaFin emphasized that these unlicensed ATMs are often used for scams, fraud, and money laundering activities, posing a serious risk to the financial system. According to German banking law, cryptocurrency ATM operators must obtain authorization from BaFin. Violators may face severe legal consequences, including up to 5 years of imprisonment.

ChainCatcher news, the city of Chico, California is seeking joint support from state legislation and local ordinances to better regulate Bitcoin ATMs. During a local government committee discussion on August 7, Butte County Chief Executive Officer Andy Pickett talked about the ongoing regulation of Bitcoin. Pickett reported on recent state-level legislation aimed at limiting fraud cases associated with Bitcoin ATMs.In October 2023, a survey by the California legislature found that some cryptocurrency ATMs charge premiums of up to 33%, with some ATMs having limits as high as $50,000. As a result, a bill was passed to limit deposits to $1,000 per day.Additionally, California requires that all cryptocurrency ATM transactions must provide receipts and disclose the operator's name.

ChainCatcher news, Bitcoin Depot, which has over 7,400 Bitcoin ATMs in the United States, announced that it will seek to allocate part of its cash reserves to Bitcoin. The company explained that this strategy aligns it with other forward-thinking institutions that use Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and aim to benefit from its assets in the future.Bitcoin Depot stated that its Bitcoin purchases will be "opportunistic in nature" and will not include funds necessary for its operations. CEO Brandon Mintz mentioned that this initiative demonstrates the company's "long-standing belief that Bitcoin is an important financial asset and store of value."The company did not disclose how much of its cash reserves it intends to convert into Bitcoin, nor did it reveal whether it has set any proportional targets for this task.