Coinme Explains Crypto ATM Fees: How They Work, How to Compare Them, and Red Flags to Look For

ATM fees are an unsurprising financial cost for many people. Withdrawing money from an ATM outside of your bank’s network costs around $3 to $5 on average, and it’s an easy-to-understand financial fee. Your bank has to pay the other bank for using the machine, and the expenses are passed down the line.

Whether you agree with traditional ATM fees or not, you’re likely used to the relief of withdrawing funds from a machine in your bank’s network. Often, that’s a fee-free transaction, and that expectation may carry over to crypto ATMs and kiosks.

But buying and selling bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies at a crypto ATM or kiosk isn’t the same thing as taking cash from your bank account. The backend work, converting cash into digital assets at the machine, verifying your identity, and processing the transaction across a blockchain network, is a heavier lift that comes with bigger expenses, making crypto ATM fees higher and more complex than traditional ATM fees.

As the first licensed and regulated crypto cash onramp in the United States and a trusted state-licensed money transmitter, Coinme insists on transparent pricing for its users. To help consumers navigate these fees, Coinme’s experts break down:

What crypto ATMs are and how their fees differ from traditional ATM fees
How crypto ATM fees are calculated and paid
How you can compare fees from different providers
Red flags to look for related to crypto ATM fees
How Coinme Cash offers a different way to add funds to your Coinme wallet at retail

How Do Crypto ATM Fees Work?

Crypto ATM fees are charges applied when you use a physical kiosk (an ATM-like machine) to buy or sell cryptocurrency.

Common crypto ATM fees include:

Exchange fees, typically charged as a percentage of the value of your transaction
Service or convenience fees, usually positioned as flat fees charged by a location hosting a kiosk
Network fees, which apply when you take actions like sending cryptocurrencies to a different digital wallet

Exchange, flat service, and network fees are typically disclosed as separate line items so you can review them before you complete your transaction.

How Spread Impacts the Cost

Spread is the difference between the amount you pay for cryptocurrency at the machine versus the current market value of that crypto. It’s not a fee, but it’s something to understand if you buy and sell crypto via a crypto ATM.

Think of it like buying produce at a grocery store versus directly from a farm:

The price on the shelf is higher than what you might pay directly to the farmer.
The store price reflects the cost of sourcing, transporting, and making produce available to you in a convenient location.
The markup is built into the sticker price, not added at the register.

Spread works the same way.

When you buy crypto at a crypto ATM, the quoted price reflects a margin that helps cover the cost of making crypto cash transactions available in a convenient location.

Real-World Example: Crypto ATM Fee Comparison

Crypto ATM fees vary considerably across providers. Below are real-world examples based on pricing data from July 17, 2025.

$100 cash transacted at a crypto ATM

$500 cash transacted at a crypto ATM

As the tables show, the percentage of value lost to spread and fees varies widely across crypto ATM operators, even for the same dollar amount transacted on the same day. That makes understanding the total cost critical before you use one of these machines.

A Different Approach: Coinme Cash

Coinme Cash is a separate service that lets you fund your Coinme wallet with cash at participating retailers. It is not a crypto ATM or kiosk, and the retail transaction itself does not involve cryptocurrency. Here’s how it works:

Find a participating retailer in the Coinme app and generate a barcode for your transaction.
At the retailer’s checkout, the cashier scans your barcode, and you pay with cash. Funds are loaded into your Coinme wallet.
Inside the Coinme app, you can choose to convert your loaded funds into bitcoin or other supported cryptocurrencies at the in-app exchange rate.

Because the retail wallet-funding step and the in-app conversion step are separate, the cost structure is also different from a crypto ATM. Two costs may apply:

A retail service fee of up to $4.74 may apply at checkout when you load your wallet at a participating retailer.
A 5% exchange fee applies when you convert your loaded funds into cryptocurrency inside the Coinme app, charged on the amount you choose to convert.

For example, if you load $100 into your Coinme wallet using Coinme Cash at a participating retailer, you may pay an additional retail service fee at checkout. When you later convert those funds into bitcoin within the Coinme app, the 5% exchange fee applies to the converted amount. Keep in mind that the price quoted in the app may be slightly higher than market value due to spread.

Comparing Net Bitcoin Value: Coinme Cash and Crypto ATMs

Because Coinme Cash has a lower exchange fee and a different cost structure than crypto ATMs, the net bitcoin value you end up with from the same dollar amount can be meaningfully different. Below is a side-by-side comparison based on pricing data from July 17, 2025.

Net bitcoin value from $100 cash

Net bitcoin value from $500 cash

*Net bitcoin value for Coinme Cash reflects a two-step process: loading cash into your Coinme wallet at a participating retailer (a $3.95 retail service fee was applied in these calculations) and then converting those funds into bitcoin within the Coinme app (a 5% in-app exchange fee was applied). Retail service fees may vary by location. Coinme Cash itself is a wallet-funding service and is not a crypto ATM.

What to Consider When Researching Crypto ATM Fees

Comparing fees across crypto ATM providers isn’t always straightforward. Not every provider presents fee structures the same way, and with complex pricing, it can be hard to tell if you’re comparing like services.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you research your options:

Look for a Published Fee Schedule

Some providers publish detailed fee structures, while others disclose only that fees vary by location and machine.

CoinFlip, for example, publishes fee ranges in its terms of service.
Bitcoin Depot’s terms acknowledge that markups exist, but note they may vary significantly without specifying a range.

Knowing where to find this information before you visit a machine can help you avoid surprises during your transaction.

Understand What’s Included in the Quoted Price

When comparing crypto ATM providers, check the quoted crypto price against the current market rate. The difference gives you a clearer picture of overall costs and how spreads might impact your transactions with each provider.

Compare Total Cost, Not Just the Advertised Fee

A lower headline fee doesn’t always mean a lower total cost. Factor in flat service fees, network fees, and spread when evaluating what you’ll actually pay. The tables above demonstrate the difference spread can make in what value you end up with.

Check Whether Fees Vary by Location

Many crypto ATM providers set fees at the machine level. The same provider may charge different amounts depending on where you complete your transaction. Always check the on-screen quote before committing.

Red Flags to Watch For

Not all crypto ATM operators follow the same standards, and that will only increase as more companies enter this market. As with traditional bank ATMs, bad actors may also target consumers with scams that look like legitimate crypto investment opportunities.

Warning signs worth watching out for include:

No fee disclosure before you confirm. Reputable providers show you the full cost before you commit to a transaction.
No receipt or transaction record. You should always receive documentation of what you paid and what you received.
Pressure to transact quickly. Legitimate machines and retail locations don’t rush you through a transaction.
Someone else is directing the transaction. If another person, online or in person, provides you with specific directions about where, how, and how much cryptocurrency to send, tread carefully. These are common signs of scams.