The first bitcoin ATM in UK opens for business in a London Café

On March 4, 2014, Britain witnessed the launch of its first Bitcoin ATM, marking a significant step in the adoption of bitcoins in the country. The ATM was installed at The Old Shoreditch Station Café in London’s trendy Shoreditch district. Operated by a startup called Future Coins, the ATM was a Lamassu machine known for its ease of use and simple interface.
 

The launch event was a low-key affair, with the ATM quietly going live without much fanfare. However, it represented a pivotal moment for British Bitcoin enthusiasts, who had previously been limited to online transactions. The ATM allowed users to convert their sterling into Bitcoin in a matter of minutes, providing a tangible connection to the bitcoin world.
 

The Old Shoreditch Station Café, where the ATM was located, had already made history by becoming the first café in the UK to accept Bitcoin as payment in July 2013. The introduction of the Bitcoin ATM further solidified the café’s status as a hub for bitcoin-related activity in London.
 

The Bitcoin ATM’s arrival in Britain was part of a broader trend of Bitcoin becoming more accessible to the general public. It followed the world’s first Bitcoin ATM launch in Vancouver, Canada, in October 2013, and preceded the expected launch of a more complex Robocoin machine in London.