How much are bitcoin ATM fees?

Bitcoin ATM fees are the charges a kiosk operator takes when it turns cash into crypto, and they are far higher than the fees on most online exchanges. The cost usually hides inside the exchange rate the machine shows, so the total is easy to miss. How the machines work in general is covered in how do bitcoin ATMs work.

What is a crypto ATM fee made of?

There are two parts. The first is the spread, or markup: the gap between the price per coin on the kiosk screen and the price on a regular exchange. The second is any flat transaction fee. California's regulator treats these separately and, since January 1, 2024, has required receipts to show the dollar amount of the spread and the name of the exchange used to measure it.

Because the markup is built into the price, a customer can see a modest flat fee and still lose a large share of the cash to the rate. Adding the two together is the only way to see the real cost, and the same logic applies to crypto fees generally.

Why are bitcoin ATM fees so high?

Operators say kiosks are costly to run. In a January 2025 report, Vermont's financial regulator noted that operators claimed the state's cap did not cover their costs, and that raising it could bring more machines into the state.

Critics argue the fees fall hardest on scam victims. In February 2025 Iowa's attorney general sued Bitcoin Depot and CoinFlip, alleging they took 23% and 21% of the money sent and that fees were often hidden. The cases are allegations, not findings.

Which states have bitcoin ATM fee caps?

As of November 2026, examples include:

• Vermont: the greater of $5 or 3% of the transaction, with markups counted toward the limit.
• California: since January 1, 2025, the greater of $5 or 15%. The state fined operator Coinhub $675,000 after finding charges above the legal maximum.
• Kansas: the greater of $5 or 18%, under a law enacted in April 2026 with a July 1 start.
• North Carolina: service fees capped at 14% under a 2026 law.
• Virginia: 18% per transaction, taking effect July 1, 2027.

Several of these laws also set daily limits for new customers. Some states have banned kiosks outright, as tracked in where are crypto ATMs banned. The federal Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act would not cap fees.

Rules differ by state and change often. Check your state's financial regulator for the limits that apply where you live.