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'Wild west of finance': Why are there cryptocurrency ATMs?

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'Wild west of finance': Why are there cryptocurrency ATMs?

The Canberra region has about 39 cryptocurrency ATMS, but for locals who haven’t engaged with digital currency before their presence can be confusing.

Cryptocurrencies, or cryptos, are digital tokens that allow people to make payments directly to each other through an online system.

The ATMS were created as an alternative payment method to remove the middleman of banks through a de-centralised system.

When transferring crypto, thousands of computers worldwide verify the transfer, instead of one bank.

Bought and sold on digital marketplaces called exchanges, cryptocurrencies don’t have any intrinsic monetary value — they are worth whatever people are willing to pay for them at the market on a given day.

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Currently, Bitcoin is both the most popular crypto and the crypto with the highest monetary value, at about $150,000 per coin.

So if the main purpose of crypto is to be digital, why do crypto ATMs exist, and are they useful?

How do they work?

There is no tangible data on how many Australians are accessing the ATMs, however as of last July, according to YouGov, about 1.3 million NSW residents, 801,000 Victorians, 850,000 Queenslanders, 294,000 South Australians, and 462,000 WA residents said they currently owned crypto.

Award-wining technology journalist and founder of technology publication Pickr, Leigh Stark, told ABC Radio Canberra the primary function of a crypto ATM is to turn real money into digital money, or vice versa.

In order to use a crypto ATM a person must already have a crypto wallet that can generate a QR code.

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At a crypto ATM the digital currency can be bought, sold, or both, but Mr Stark said most only offer access to between five and 10 of the major cryptocurrencies — almost always including Bitcoin.

Selling cryptocurrency through a crypto ATM means swapping it for its current market value in cash or with a debit card.

You can also buy cryptocurrency with cash or a debit card at a crypto ATM.

Mr Stark said he didn’t know “if there’s necessarily a need” for cryptocurrency ATMs.

“I can understand why some people might want to take some of their money out of it, so effectively turning a digital coin that only exists on the internet into hard money, that kind of makes some sense to me,” he said.

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“But buying crypto through it, I’m not entirely sure I understand that — largely because of the amount of exchanges that exist online.

“I feel like they would be a better approach for actually buying crypto, not even just because of the money transfer, but also because there are a lot more options for what you invest in on an online exchange.”

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Mr Stark warned taking money out from some crypto ATMs was taxable, and it was up to a user to remember and file.

“So the ATMs, effectively, they still have to abide by Australian government regulation regarding how they work,” he said

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“But the whole thing about crypto and managing to take your money out of it, it qualifies as part of the capital gains tax.

“Not all crypto ATMs work that way, but if you take your money out, you have to remember what you did as a form of event, and file that information later on.”

Are Canberrans using Bitcoin ATMs?

Mr Stark said because a Bitcoin ATM usually only offered access to a selection of major cryptocurrencies, their usefulness depends on what exchanges a person invests in.

And they don’t all support selling, which is how a person can get money from them.

“Not every Bitcoin ATM works as a form of exchange, that’s for selling currency and they don’t all do that.

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“In fact, far fewer support selling than they do buying.”

A Localcoin branded Bitcoin ATM in Canberra. (ABC News: David Sciasci)

Mr Stark said crypto ATMs in the Canberra region typically accepted a maximum of $25,000 in cash, but he suspected the majority of users wouldn’t be carrying that much cash with them.

But he said much smaller amounts were not uncommon.

“I mean the reality is, if you put in 20 bucks, that’s 0.000013 of a single Bitcoin,” he said.

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“[But] you absolutely could buy that small amount of crypto, and that’s quite normal.”

Mr Stark said often people begin buying crypto in these very small amounts and then decide whether to buy more depending on whether its value increases.

“Crypto is kind of the wild wild west of finance, depending on what type of coin you get, whether it’s one of the big ones like Bitcoin or one of the small ones like Shiba Inu or Ethereum, or anything like that, you might end up with a small amount that spirals into a big one,” he said.

“You might be one of those success stories, it seems highly unlikely, but you could be just waiting for it to get higher and higher.”

Are they used for scams or crime?

In order to use the financial proceeds of crime, or ‘dirty money’, it first needs to be laundered to hide its illegal origins. 

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Cryptocurrency offers a sophisticated way to do this by turning it into digital currency.

However, every crypto transaction is recorded on a blockchain — essentially a publicly available, online ledger — so to make the dirty money truly clean, the crypto is then put through a mixer service.

These services mix cryptocurrency together from a number of different users, which obscures the transaction trails and makes it very difficult to trace the original source.

A Localcoin branded sign that reads

Leigh Stark says if someone is asking you to buy them Bitcoin, it’s most likely a scam. (ABC News: David Sciasci)

Mr Stark said it wouldn’t shock him if Bitcoin ATMs were being used for criminal enterprises like money laundering or money mule activities.

“I’ve not seen it, but likewise, I’ve also never seen anyone actively use a Bitcoin ATM before,” he said.

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“I’ve never had a reason to, and that’s kind of the point.

“But maybe I’m coming at the wrong times, maybe there are people coming through with $25,000 at 1am and I just have no idea.”

As for using them in scams, Mr Stark said that was less about the ATMs and more about cryptocurrency as a whole.

He said if someone is asking you to get Bitcoin for them “it’s probably a scam”.

“There are a lot of different scams out there, and Australians lose billions every year, but yes, if somebody has asked you to buy them crypto or said that you need to give them crypto in order to get something in return, it’s very likely a scam,” Mr Stark said.

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“Some of the Bitcoin ATMs have been used for things like that, and so now the Australian government is effectively trying to track and work out how those actually work in relation.”

Crypto

LAB Token Crashes 80% to $1.25 as $5B Market Cap Vanishes in 48 Hours

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LAB Token Crashes 80% to .25 as B Market Cap Vanishes in 48 Hours

Key Takeaways

LAB Trade Blames ‘Large Market Participants’

LAB, the native token of the multi-chain trading platform LAB Trade, suffered a catastrophic collapse this week, plunging from just over $7 to $1.25 on Wednesday—a staggering 80% decline in under 24 hours. This crash followed an equally brutal sell-off on Tuesday, which saw the token slide from nearly $17. In total, LAB wiped out nearly 90% of its value in just 48 hours.

LAB crash chart: CoinGecko

The financial fallout was swift: a market capitalization that exceeded $5 billion on Tuesday morning evaporated to just $390 million by 3:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The freefall prompted the LAB Trade team to address the panic on X, where they expressed disappointment and deflected blame toward external heavy-sellers:

“While today’s market activity is disappointing, our product roadmap and long-term focus remain unchanged. We’re seeing significant selling pressure from large market participants. Several independent trading firms also hold substantial LAB positions that are not affiliated with our team. We’re working closely with our liquidity partners and continue to monitor market conditions,” the team said on X.

With this crash, LAB joins a notorious lineup of volatile tokens, such as RAVE, RIVER and SIREN. Each of these projects experienced meteoric rises followed by near-instantaneous erasures, sparking widespread “pump-and-dump” allegations against their respective teams and murky distribution networks.

Crypto Sleuth Slams Centralized Exchanges

Prominent on-chain detective ZachXBT, who previously flagged suspicious insider loans and market-maker coordination back in May, blasted major centralized exchanges ( CEXs) for failing to protect retail investors. Taking to X, ZachXBT criticized the lack of proactive intervention:

“Disappointing to see how no action was taken by Binance, Bitget, and Gate earlier to prevent it. If CEXs cared, profits from the accounts manipulating the price would be distributed to users at a minimum. Unlocks for investors were scheduled to begin later this month, however, multiple late vesting changes occurred in the past.”

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ZachXBT reiterated his previous warnings that insiders have effectively controlled the entire circulating supply, allowing market makers to orchestrate extreme price manipulation on major exchanges. His final advice to the community was blunt: avoid trading LAB under any circumstances.

ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud

ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has renewed his assault on Bitget, accusing the exchange of knowingly enabling market makers to run supply…

ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud
Bitcoin.com News

ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has renewed his assault on Bitget, accusing the exchange of knowingly enabling market makers to run supply…

ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud
Bitcoin.com News

ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has renewed his assault on Bitget, accusing the exchange of knowingly enabling market makers to run supply…

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Residents question proposed crypto mining center

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Residents question proposed crypto mining center

STARKVILLE – Potentially higher utility bills and sound pollution topped the list of concerns raised by six residents who addressed the board of aldermen Tuesday about a cryptocurrency mining facility proposed for Industrial Park Road.

Vice Mayor Roy Perkins, who represents Ward 6, said he has fielded similar concerns from constituents following the board’s June 12 work session, during which members heard a presentation about the potential project.

“I know these things need to have full accountability, full transparency and different things,” Perkins said. “… Well you can rest assured the vice mayor is going to be on assignment. I’m going to do my part. I’m not going to do anything that’s going to negatively impact this community.”

The proposed facility would be a specialized type of data center designed to mine cryptocurrency, a digital currency that operates independently of government-backed financial systems. It is stored in digital wallets and fluctuates in value.

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Mining facilities use specialized computers that draw large energy loads to secure the digital transactions that take place. The center proposed in Starkville would be much smaller than “hyperscale data centers” that store and process data for large tech companies.

Utility usage topped the concerns of most residents with Pam Jones, the first to speak, set the tone.

“I understand that this is on a smaller scale than the hyper-scale facilities, and I just wanted to be sure that we had ordinances in place that will count the noise, especially at night and that there will be water and power management,” Jones said.

Other residents took issue with what they see as a lack of transparency around the proposed project.

“I was quite disappointed to learn (the mining facility) was not an agenda item today,” said Eadie Keenan, a Ward 7 resident. “… Quite frankly, I have more questions than can fit in three minutes.”

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Tiffany Womack, another Starkville resident, echoed Kennan’s concerns, adding utility usage and market volatility to her own list of issues.

“If (the center was) to go bankrupt or something like that, would that possibly fall back on the responsibility of Starkville citizens?” Womack asked.

Mayor Lynn Spruill did not answer each question individually, instead encouraging those with questions to watch the June 12 presentation. Due to the project’s early stage, she noted the board does not yet know answers to all the questions raised during Tuesday’s meeting.

“I brought (the center) to the board as an opportunity for us to begin that process of learning so we are nowhere near making a decision,” Spruill said. “Which is why it isn’t on the agenda and won’t be on the agenda for some time.”

Spruill said the proposed center is currently going through the staff vetting process. Once the process is complete, staff will make a recommendation to the board on whether to pursue the center. At that time, Spruill expects to be able to answer residents’ remaining questions.

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Spruill said transparency is important to her and the board while going through the process of vetting the mining center.

“Nothing is being hidden. It’s all out there for everybody to see, and we’ll make decisions based on facts not on Facebook craziness,” Spruill said. “… We want facts, and we want all decisions to be made with facts. And so hopefully that will put some of your concerns (to rest), at least to the extent that this is nowhere near something that will be on the agenda.”

Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.

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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.

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Jim Rickards Asked Robert Kiyosaki to Read One Manuscript, Then His View of Global Finance Changed

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Jim Rickards Asked Robert Kiyosaki to Read One Manuscript, Then His View of Global Finance Changed

Key Takeaways

Why Did One Manuscript Change Robert Kiyosaki’s View?

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the best-selling personal finance book Rich Dad Poor Dad, said an advance manuscript of “The Entropy Trap” shared by Jim Rickards prompted him to rethink how he views global finance. Rickards is an economist, lawyer, and financial commentator known for writing about currencies, debt, and systemic market risk. Kiyosaki said the early reading changed his perspective on where the financial system may be headed.

The reaction was framed around a warning about financial change. The book, written by Mickey M. Maini, “blew my mind and opened my eyes to what & why global financial change is coming,” Kiyosaki described. His comments focused on what he described as a shift in the rules behind wealth, assets, and trust.

The central claim is that wealth could move away from people relying on traditional financial assumptions. Kiyosaki asserted:

“The informed will be tomorrow’s ULTRA RICH. Todays uniformed operating by the old rules of money… will become the new poor.”

The Warning Behind the Claim

The warning centers on assets that depend on trust, including U.S. bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and mutual funds. Kiyosaki framed those instruments as vulnerable under the financial shift he says is coming, placing commonly held investment products at the center of the risk.

That claim is severe, but he presented it as a warning rather than a proven outcome. He also pointed to large bondholders, including Japan, saying they have already started dumping U.S. bonds. He did not provide supporting data in the statement.

The acclaimed author shared:

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“Message from book… ‘All assets that require trust, assets that most people have… such as U.S. bonds, ETFs, mutual funds will be flushed down toilets, all over the world.’”

The broader conflict is whether traditional financial assets remain reliable under the conditions Kiyosaki described. His framing divides investors between those preparing for a changed financial system and those still operating under assumptions he says may no longer hold.

What Still Needs to Be Proven

A planned August study session could clarify the warning Kiyosaki described. He said his study team would examine the message and that Rickards may join, though the evidence behind the claims has not yet been laid out.

For now, the warning rests on Kiyosaki’s account of a manuscript that changed his view. He urged readers to prepare, writing:

“I want you to be one of the world’s new rich.”

What remains unknown is whether market data, policy moves, or investor behavior will confirm the risk he described.

His recent commentary has focused on what he describes as fragility in the global monetary system, particularly around the U.S. dollar. He has pointed to rising debt, central bank policies, and inflation as risks that could trigger a sharp market downturn.

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Alongside those concerns, he has repeatedly highlighted bitcoin, gold, and silver as alternative stores of value. In his view, those assets may help reduce exposure to traditional financial instruments during periods of currency weakness and market turbulence.

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