Bitcoin ($BTC) Canada’s automated teller machine (ATM) operators are signaling a rebound in 2026 as a nationwide ban looms.
The number of Bitcoin ATMs in Canada has increased by 176 since the beginning of the year (year-to-date), increasing from 3,732 booths on January 1 to 3,904 as of May 4. $BTC According to data from Canada, ATMs in Canada increased by nearly 5%, reaching an all-time high (ATH) at the time of writing. CoinATMRadar.
A Canadian crypto ATM company has already installed one since early May, suggesting operators are working hard amid regulatory headwinds. This comes especially after the federal government of Canada proposed banning all crypto ATMs across the country in its Spring 2026 Economic Update on April 28th.
The Canadian government plans to expand the ability of the Financial Transactions and Reporting Analysis Center of Canada (FINTRAC) to downplay the registration of money services businesses (MSBs). At the time of writing, Canadian crypto ATM operators are classified as MSBs, suggesting a crackdown may occur in the near future.
“To protect Canadians by cutting off the primary means by which fraudsters deceive their victims and criminals deposit their criminal proceeds, the Spring 2026 Economic Update proposes a ban on cryptocurrency ATMs,” the proposal reads.
Global Bitcoin ATM growth stalls amid increased regulatory scrutiny
While Bitcoin ATMs are on the rise in Canada, contrasting trends are evident in other major jurisdictions. for example, $BTC The number of ATMs in the United States has fallen by 704 since the beginning of the year, to about 31,020 at the beginning of this month.
🚨Breaking News: US will lose over 700 Bitcoin ATMs in early 2026 🇺🇸 $BTC pic.twitter.com/WFLKcTgQUA
— MarketSleek (@Market_Sleek) May 1, 2026
moreover, $BTC As previously reported by Finbold, ATMs in Europe decreased from 1,754 booths in January to 1,747 booths by the end of the first quarter of 2026. Regulatory pressure on crypto ATM operators around the world is increasing amid an increase in fraud and predatory pricing, weighing on the sector’s growth prospects.
