TECH

Mediamarkt-Saturn puts more Bitcoin machines in eight of its German branches

Mediamarkt-Saturn Group is rolling out bitcoin vending machines at eight more of its German branches. Bitcoin ATMs can be found at Saturn or Mediamarkt branches in Munich, Mainz, Dresden, Hamburg and Berlin.

Last summer, the retail chain installed these devices in three branches in Cologne, Frankfurt and Dortmund.

The machines are operated by supplier Kurant GmbH from Austria. In Austria, the electric chain set up ATMs at a dozen Mediamarkt branches last year after a pilot project.

Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin can be purchased, but only after registering with Kurant's German subsidiary Spot9, which requires an online identification procedure. A cell phone number is then requested from the machine.

There are now branches in the main cities of Munich, Mainz, Dresden, Hamburg and Berlin. So far, Kurant has 70 Bitcoin ATMs in Germany and 240 in Europe.

To use Bitcoin ATMs, interested parties must first register online and load a wallet application on their smartphone. This then creates a QR code, which is scanned into the machine. If the money is paid, its Bitcoin equivalent value will appear in the wallet.

The official supplier of the machines is Sutor Bank, which guarantees compliance with regulatory requirements.

Author: mundophone