Cryptocurrencies have increasingly become a practical way to pay for a wide range of goods and services, including travel arrangements like plane tickets. As this trend evolves, Aena introduced a pilot program to install cryptocurrency ATMs at select airports. The initial rollout focuses on three major hubs—Alicante-Elche in El Altet, Palma de Mallorca, and Ibiza—where travelers can buy digital currencies on the go. Depending on how these early installations perform, the plan is to expand the program to additional airports across the country.
Using digital currencies such as Bitcoin to make purchases is growing in popularity. People now use crypto to buy clothing, video games, gift cards, and even travel tickets. Building on this momentum, Aena began issuing licenses to place the first cryptocurrency ATMs at three Spanish airports: Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, and Alicante-Elche.
According to information from the public company that runs Spain’s national airports, the selected operator is BitBase. This company is recognized by the Bank of Spain as a provider of virtual currency exchange services for fiduciary currency. With this authorization, ATMs at the three airports are expected to be installed in the coming weeks, enabling travelers to access digital currencies conveniently during their journeys.
The initial deployment is a pilot project. Aena intentionally chose airports with high tourism impact to gauge how this service is used and received by travelers. Depending on customer adoption and the results achieved, the initiative could be expanded to additional airports within the network.
At these cryptocurrency ATMs, travelers can purchase digital currencies, with a maximum purchase limit of 2,500 euros when paying by cash or card. For transactions exceeding 995 euros, users will be required to complete a registration step directly at the ATM to comply with regulatory and security requirements.
It is worth noting that, at present, Spain ranks as the third country globally with the most cryptocurrency ATMs, counting 217 units. However, these ATMs were not previously installed at airports. The leading countries for crypto ATM deployments are the United States and Canada, highlighting a broader North American leadership in this space.