After enjoying steady expansion throughout 2025 as Bitcoin (BTC) first hit a new all-time high (ATH) above $125,000 before retreating, the global network of cryptocurrency ATM’s saw a notable contraction in the first five months of 2026.
Specifically, there were 39,456 such BTC machines worldwide on January 1 and, by May 18, the number dropped to 38,484 for a total loss of 972: just 28 short of 1,000.
Notably, the decline began only in March, as an additional 360 Bitcoin ATMs were added globally through the first two months of the year, indicating the trend didn’t follow the cryptocurrency’s price performance.
Indeed, after starting the year at $88,732, BTC dropped to $62,851 by February 5 and hovered around $70,000 by March when it temporarily rallied to approximately $75,000.
The cryptocurrency then found its local bottom on March 28 at approximately $66,000 and rallied some 17% to $77,438 by press time.
U.S. leads in Bitcoin ATM removals while Canada defies the downtrend
Elsewhere, Bitcoin ATM removals were largely concentrated in the United States. There were 30,844 such machines in the country at the start of 2026, and 289 were added by March 1.
The subsequent trend reversal led to the removal of 1,262 machines, and the total year-to-date (YTD) losses amount to 973, as there are 29,871 Bitcoin ATMs in the U.S. on May 18, 2026.
In the European Union, the trend started earlier than in the Western Hemisphere, with the recent peak coming already on December 1, 2025, at 1,803. At press time, there are 1,695 Bitcoin ATMs in the EU for a total drop of 60 from 1,755 on January 1.
Curiously, Canada remains, by May 18, on the uptrend, having added 185 such BTC machines: from 3,733 on New Year’s Day to 3,918.
Bitcoin Depot BTC ATM operator files for bankruptcy
Lastly, the drop in the number of BTC ATMs appears likely to continue in the U.S. in the coming months as Bitcoin Depot (NASDAQ: BTM) – an operator of such machines – filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 18, 2026.
Notably, the company suffered a major security breach in April that led to the theft of nearly $4 million, and explained that its latest decision was driven by adverse changes in the regulatory landscape across the various states in the country.
Featured image via Shutterstock
