How to buy bitcoins at a Athena Bitcoin ATM?

Step 1: Verify your cell phone number by typing it in and inputting the SMS code.

Step 2: Select Bitcoin as the coin type.

Step 3: Choose a destination of where you would like the bitcoins to be sent. You can choose to scan a QR code (recommended), print a paper wallet, or manually enter your wallet address. Our machines can work with any bitcoin wallet, however, if you don’t have one, you can find suggestions on Our Most Recommended Bitcoin (& Crypto) Wallets page.

Step 4: Insert cash.

Step 5: Hit “Finish” and choose to receive a paper or email receipt.

Also see our full Instructions page for how to buy bitcoin and other assets at our ATMs.

How to sell bitcoins for cash at a Athena Bitcoin ATM?

Click here for an interactive map of all our cash-dispensing locations.

Step 1: Tap the Withdraw Cash button on the home screen.

Step 2: Select Bitcoin as the currency type and choose the amount of cash you would like to receive.

Step 3: Using your mobile bitcoin wallet, scan the QR code on the machine to send the exact amount of bitcoins required for your transaction (make sure you send your bitcoins with a high network fee to reduce wait times).

Step 4: Receive a receipt with a redemption code (this will happen even if you sent no coins to the ATM).

Step 5: You will need to wait for your transaction to confirm on the blockchain. The time this takes depends on the fee you paid to send your transaction. Choose a higher fee for faster confirmation. Once confirmed you will receive a text message letting you know that your cash is ready for pickup.

Step 6: Go back to the machine, touch “Redeem”, and use you redemption code to get cash.

Also see our full How to Sell page for instructions on selling bitcoin or other digital currencies at our ATMs.

How to get bitcoin off of a paper wallet?

Step 1: You must download a mobile wallet app which has the ability to move (or "sweep”) bitcoin from a paper wallet. If you don’t have one, the Edge wallet for mobile phones will work.

Step 2: Once you have the Edge wallet downloaded, open it and tap to create a new account. Write down your username and password onto paper and store that safely away from your phone!

Step 3: Go through the introductory screens. Once you reach the main Wallets screen, tap on the three lines icon at the top right to open the main menu. Tap on Sweep Paper Wallet from that menu. You may need to scroll the menu with your finger to find it.

Step 4: Your camera should open up within the app (approve any camera permissions). Scan the private key QR code on your paper wallet (the bottom QR code).

Step 5: Edge should give you a popup window. Press "Import" to move the bitcoin. The coins should show up almost immediately in your wallet balance as pending. You should now be able to send this bitcoin on to an external address right away or store them in this wallet for later use.

See our How to Use a Paper Wallet guide for more detail and instructions for different types of wallets, including Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash paper wallets.

I’m not seeing my purchase / why aren’t my bitcoins showing up?

All bitcoin purchases from an Athena ATM deliver within 20 minutes, so you should receive your coins very quickly. Most of the time, if you don’t see the coins in your wallet, it just needs to be refreshed by closing out of the app and opening it back up again. Websites, on the other hand, will not typically show the coins until the transaction has been confirmed on the Bitcoin network, which can take up to an hour unless the network is running slow due to high transaction volume. If you are concerned about your coins not being sent, please check your transaction on the network by using a block explorer to find your transaction using your address.