Bitcoin ATM Operators In Canada: Coinflip, Athena, Bitcoin Depot And More

Searches for "coinflip crypto" and "coinflip canada" usually come from people standing in front of a machine and wondering whether the company is real. This page lists the main operators with what I could verify in public records, and flags what I could not.

Source: FINTRAC MSB registry open data, fetched October 2, 2026. Registration is a compliance status, not an endorsement and not CSA authorization.

Part of my guide to Bitcoin ATMs in Canada.

Who Operates Bitcoin ATMs In Canada?

Localcoin is a Toronto-area operator whose registered entity is 9992987 Canada Inc. It is one of the biggest Canadian-founded networks, and I used one of its machines for an earlier test: a $20 purchase cost me $2.75 in fees, or 13.7%.

CoinFlip is a US ATM company. Its Canadian arm, CoinFlip Canada Inc., is registered with FINTRAC from an address in Chicago. A separate CoinFlip Trade Desk Canada entry shows as ceased. CoinFlip has announced an "Order Desk" service for Canadians, a way to buy larger amounts over the counter, and I have not tested it.

Bitcoiniacs started the whole business in Vancouver in 2013, and I cover it in my Bitcoiniacs review. Bitcoin Well runs an ATM network next to its online service, and its own site says 160+ ATM locations, with fees shown before you confirm.

What Happened To Bitcoin Depot In Canada?

Bitcoin Depot Inc. and 17 affiliates filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions on May 18, 2026 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, according to the company's SEC 8-K, to wind down operations and sell its assets. The affiliates include Bitcoin Depot Operating LLC, BitAccess Inc., Digital Gold Ventures Inc. and Express Vending Inc. The company said its Canadian entities are included in the US process and that it expected to start restructuring proceedings in Canada in due course. I could not confirm a Canadian court order from a primary source, so I do not state one. If you used one of its machines, expect it to be dark. Do not send money anywhere on the strength of a message about it.

What About Athena Bitcoin And The Rest?

I could not find an Athena Bitcoin entry in FINTRAC's registry under that name, so I will not tell you it runs machines in Canada. Bitaccess is a software provider whose registered operating entity ceased in 2022, although BitAccess Inc. is among the affiliates in Bitcoin Depot's Chapter 11 filing. Smaller regional operators exist too, and I have not verified them all. My rule for any machine: get the legal name, search it in the FINTRAC registry, and walk away if there is no match.

What Should You Check Before Using A Machine?

Look for the operator's legal name on the screen or the receipt. Check it against the registry. Compare the on-screen price with a live exchange price, because the difference is what you pay. Read the minimum, the maximum and the fee line before you insert a single bill. And ask one question: did someone I do not know tell me to come here? If yes, leave.

Are Bitcoin ATMs Safe To Use?

The machine is rarely the problem. The problem is who told you to use it. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says no government agency will ever ask you to pay in cryptocurrency, and a crypto payment has none of the protection a credit card gives you. If anyone is on the phone while you feed a machine, stop. The Finance Canada release on the ATM ban says studies link 85% to 98% of crypto ATM transactions to illicit activity, and estimates Canadians lost $142 million to $284 million to ATM-linked fraud in 2024. See my scams guide.

Is There A Cheaper Way To Buy?

Yes, every online route I score beats a machine on cost. NDAX charges a flat 0.20%, Kraken Pro starts at 0.40% and 0.80%, and Coinbase and Wealthsimple Crypto fund with a free Interac e-Transfer. My ATM how-to and ban guide cover the rest.

How Much More Does An ATM Cost Than An Online Exchange?

I cannot give you each operator's current fee because I could not verify a published schedule for any of them. What I can give you is my own data point and the published online rates. In my earlier Localcoin test, a $20 purchase cost $2.75, or 13.7%. If a machine charged that rate on a $500 buy, the cost would be about $68.50. This is arithmetic on my test, not a quote from any operator. Here is what the same $500 costs on registered online platforms.

What Does FINTRAC Registration Actually Cover?

Registration means the operator is a money services business under Canada's anti-money-laundering law. FINTRAC guidance says an MSB must verify the identity of anyone who requests a virtual currency exchange or transfer of $1,000 or more, and must file a large virtual currency transaction report when it receives $10,000 or more in one transaction or in several within 24 hours, within five working days. It does not set fees, guarantee customer funds or authorize the operator as a securities platform. That last point is why registered ATM operators and CSA-registered exchanges sit in two separate boxes in my scoring.

What Happens If An Operator Fails Or Closes?

The Bitcoin Depot case is the live example. Once an operator files for protection, its machines can go dark, and customers with balances or pending transactions become creditors in a court process. Bitcoin Depot's filing says its Canadian entities are part of the US process. A regular ATM purchase is instant, so you rarely have a balance at risk, but if an operator offers an account, a wallet or a pending sell order, withdraw it and do not leave funds there. Crypto is not covered by CIPF or CDIC.

What Cash Options Exist Besides A Machine?

If cash is the point, two registered routes on my list still work. Bull Bitcoin accepts in-person payment at Canada Post for a $3.95 fee, with a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $7,500. Bitcoin Well sells for cash at its own machines with fees shown before the transaction, and through vouchers at a 4.0% spread on a Lite Account. For anyone with a bank account, Interac e-Transfer on a CSA-registered platform is still the cheaper route. Use my step-by-step guide.