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Topic: Building a Bitcoin ATM. Should I bother? Demo Video! (Read 6811 times)

sr. member
Activity: 807
Merit: 251
World's First Crowd Owned Cryptocurrency Exchange
good work guys
full member
Activity: 195
Merit: 100
great idea
newbie
Activity: 8
Merit: 0
Any Updates on these projects?
sr. member
Activity: 426
Merit: 250
why doesn't this video have a bajillion views

were you throwing this project on kickstarter or anything?
Let the bitcoinaddress be scannable by qr as well.
420
hero member
Activity: 756
Merit: 500
why doesn't this video have a bajillion views

were you throwing this project on kickstarter or anything?
sr. member
Activity: 409
Merit: 251
Crypt'n Since 2011
Registered BitVenders.com domain and put up a page that describes the plan for this bitcoin vending machine.

This should give anyone who wants to build a machine the information they need to do it.  I have some ways to go on the code before it's ready. Hopefully I will be ready by January.
sr. member
Activity: 439
Merit: 250
I would love to see one set up somewhere. I would be buying bitcoins like crazy. Right now I have to use BitInstant and drag my butt down to walmart and pay the stupid fees in that process. I bet a finished machine could be competitive against the fees associated with the cash transactions done through bitinstant
full member
Activity: 178
Merit: 100

I have parts for the enclosure on order and will post a video of the completed unit when completed.  I will be getting a web site together to start up a formal organization for this project. 

I have seen another bitcoin ATM from a year ago on You Tube.  I didn't quite understand if they where selling private keys with value on them or a similar system to what I am doing.  It really didn't show it function at all.

I am hoping to have a location in the Chicago area in early 2013. With locations in L.A. and New York to follow.
 

Great project!

I am interested in doing exactly this in Australia. I was thinking about using the Mei AE2600 and raspberry pi with serial multi data bus as controller but the information is scarce and my knowledge is basic. I would really like to see some kind of wiki projects site!
hero member
Activity: 702
Merit: 503
Here is my prototype demo video http://youtu.be/EdR_fHr_6Eg
Man, "Big-Up yourself!"  Cheesy That is excellent!!!

Look forward to seeing one of your systems in the wild! Good luck!
vip
Activity: 1386
Merit: 1140
The Casascius 1oz 10BTC Silver Round (w/ Gold B)
Here is another way to leverage the work of others:

Look at this prepaid phone card vending machine: http://www.onlinevending.com/catindex/items/C100-19-0.html

Simply load it with empty paper wallets with a Bitcoin address on them, pre-printed onto standard size plastic cards.

All it requires is that you have some way to know immediately when a card is sold (for example, a sensor that notifies your server of a sale via a cellular connection).  Your server automatically calculates the correct amount of BTC and sends it to the card at the time it is vended.  Assumption is you know in advance the sequence of the cards so you know which one just got sold.  Voila, bitcoin ATM with minimum engineering.

With even less engineering, you could activate the cards simply by pre-printing activation codes and then having the buyer use their cell phone to notify you they just bought the card by visiting a URL, scanning a QR code, or calling an activation number just like a prepaid phone card.  (they end up getting the exchange rate as of the time they activate it instead of the time they buy it, but it's sixes)

How about you vend bitcoin addresses as you say for a set $ amount ie a $20 card. User retrieves card and holds card's QR code up to vending machine's scanner. $20 worth of btc then sent to the address.


edit
Oh ya. Awesome job OP.

That's essentially what I have suggested, other than that to do what you've suggested, that vending machine would have to be outfitted with a scanner, with an associated programming expense, maintenance expense, and recurring communication charges to keep that scanner in contact with home base.

There is value in simplicity, both in terms of cost to those who will use/own/operate/maintain the machines, as well as how long it would take to go from idea to fully functioning implementation.

Meanwhile, if the customer can just use his own cell phone, or go directly to the redemption URL printed on the card so he can enter his own destination bitcoin address, then the solution is that much simpler.  Someone can buy a phone card vending machine TODAY and start selling bitcoin cards TODAY without hiring programmers to implement that scanner... all that is needed is some cards to sell and a web platform for redeeming the cards.

Importantly, that web platform need only be created once by one company in the business of selling cards, and then thousands of internet cafes could start selling bitcoins from a vending machine TODAY.
sr. member
Activity: 409
Merit: 251
Crypt'n Since 2011

I have parts for the enclosure on order and will post a video of the completed unit when completed.  I will be getting a web site together to start up a formal organization for this project. 

I have seen another bitcoin ATM from a year ago on You Tube.  I didn't quite understand if they where selling private keys with value on them or a similar system to what I am doing.  It really didn't show it function at all.

I am hoping to have a location in the Chicago area in early 2013. With locations in L.A. and New York to follow.
 
legendary
Activity: 938
Merit: 1000
Really a nice idea. A fast and convenient way to exchange fiat for bitcoin is really missing.
 
full member
Activity: 131
Merit: 100
Wasn't someone working on a BTC ATM about a year or two ago (it was a USD version, not a EUR version)?  What ever became of that?

Someone ought to help OP out with a link to that project so OP doesn't have to reinvent any wheels.
legendary
Activity: 1414
Merit: 1000
HODL OR DIE
Here is another way to leverage the work of others:

Look at this prepaid phone card vending machine: http://www.onlinevending.com/catindex/items/C100-19-0.html

Simply load it with empty paper wallets with a Bitcoin address on them, pre-printed onto standard size plastic cards.

All it requires is that you have some way to know immediately when a card is sold (for example, a sensor that notifies your server of a sale via a cellular connection).  Your server automatically calculates the correct amount of BTC and sends it to the card at the time it is vended.  Assumption is you know in advance the sequence of the cards so you know which one just got sold.  Voila, bitcoin ATM with minimum engineering.

With even less engineering, you could activate the cards simply by pre-printing activation codes and then having the buyer use their cell phone to notify you they just bought the card by visiting a URL, scanning a QR code, or calling an activation number just like a prepaid phone card.  (they end up getting the exchange rate as of the time they activate it instead of the time they buy it, but it's sixes)

How about you vend bitcoin addresses as you say for a set $ amount ie a $20 card. User retrieves card and holds card's QR code up to vending machine's scanner. $20 worth of btc then sent to the address.


edit
Oh ya. Awesome job OP.
legendary
Activity: 1400
Merit: 1005
I like it!

Another idea is, for those who own or manage vending machines, stock them up with 0.1 BTC paper wallets and charge $2.00 each.  If the price of BTC changes to > $20, then break them down into 0.05 BTC paper wallets, etc.

I would so do this if I owned a vending machine.  Heck, I'm thinking of buying a vending machine just to do it.  Lots of them for sale (even active ones) on craigslist, etc.
sr. member
Activity: 409
Merit: 251
Crypt'n Since 2011
I haven't figured the economics quite out yet.  I think I would charge very little in the beginning to develope a customer base.

Here is my prototype demo video http://youtu.be/EdR_fHr_6Eg


Fantastic video!  Much more exciting than any written description.

You could probably put it on Kickstarter and get funding.

Will be twice as impressive if you can ever demo two-way conversion between BTC & USD.



I maybe able to do small amounts the other way with zero confirmations (No one would want to stand infront of an ATM for 10 minutes waiting for transaction confirmations) , but the fees would probably need to be high to cover any double spend fraud.
legendary
Activity: 1862
Merit: 1011
Reverse engineer from time to time
I haven't figured the economics quite out yet.  I think I would charge very little in the beginning to develope a customer base.

Here is my prototype demo video http://youtu.be/EdR_fHr_6Eg


Fantastic video!  Much more exciting than any written description.

You could probably put it on Kickstarter and get funding.

Will be twice as impressive if you can ever demo two-way conversion between BTC & USD.


The only problem that arises is how the buyer will know he will actually get the coins and the money won't be sent elsewhere.
hero member
Activity: 588
Merit: 500
I haven't figured the economics quite out yet.  I think I would charge very little in the beginning to develope a customer base.

Here is my prototype demo video http://youtu.be/EdR_fHr_6Eg


Fantastic video!  Much more exciting than any written description.

You could probably put it on Kickstarter and get funding.

Will be twice as impressive if you can ever demo two-way conversion between BTC & USD.

sr. member
Activity: 409
Merit: 251
Crypt'n Since 2011
I haven't figured the economics quite out yet.  I think I would charge very little in the beginning to develope a customer base.

Here is my prototype demo video http://youtu.be/EdR_fHr_6Eg
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