The Bitcoin (BTC) Automated Teller Machine (ATM) operators in Canada have signaled resilience in 2026 amid a looming nationwide ban.
The number of Bitcoin ATMs in Canada has surged by 176 units year-to-date (YTD), up from 3,732 booths on January 1 to 3,904 outlets as of May 4. As such, BTC ATMs in Canada have increased by nearly 5%, reaching an all-time high (ATH) at press time, according to data from CoinATMRadar.
Crypto ATM companies in Canada have already installed one unit since the beginning of May, suggesting that operators are pressing amid regulatory headwinds. This comes as the Canadian federal government, notably, proposed banning all crypto ATMs nationwide in its Spring Economic Update 2026 on April 28.
The Canadian government plans to expand the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center of Canada’s (FINTRAC) ability to downplay the registration of Money Services Businesses (MSBs). At press time, crypto ATM operators in Canada are classified as MSBs, suggesting a potential crackdown in the near future.
“To protect Canadians by shutting down a primary method for scammers to defraud victims and for criminals to place their cash proceeds of crime, the Spring Economic Update 2026 proposes to ban crypto ATMs,” the proposal noted.
Global Bitcoin ATM growth stalls amid mounting regulatory scrutiny
Although Canada has seen an increase in Bitcoin ATMs, a contrasting trend is evident in other major jurisdictions. For instance, finance platform MarketSleek noted the number of BTC ATMs in the United States has declined by 704 YTD, down to around 31,020 units earlier this month.
Additionally, the number of crypto ATMs in Europe fell from 1,754 units in January to 1,747 booths by the end of the first quarter of 2026, as Finbold previously reported. The mounting regulatory pressure on crypto ATM operators globally, amid increased fraud and predatory pricing, has weighed on the sector’s growth prospects.
