Concerns rise as Bitcoin portals pop up at petrol stations and convenience stores around the country.

Last updated: 9 Mar 2026

At a suburban newsagent in Melbourne’s north, behind the magazines and gift-wrapping paper, there is a blue machine that you’d be forgiven for thinking is a normal ATM. 

This, however, is a Bitcoin ATM, and it’s one of thousands popping up at petrol stations, tobacco shops, newsagents and convenience stores around Australia. 

In 2019 there were 23 crypto ATMs across Australia. Today there are more than 2000. Despite our relatively small population, Australia has the third-highest number of these machines in the world, behind only the United States and…