How to Build a Crypto ATM
Hello everyone! My name is Lirim Ahmeti, and I’m a web developer who mostly works with Laravel, FilamentPHP, Blade, Livewire, Alpine.js, Vue.js, and other tools depending on the project.
I’ve always loved working on projects that push me beyond my comfort zone — projects that force me to learn something new while still building on what I already know. One of those projects is something that I’ve always found fascinating: a Crypto ATM.
Yes — an actual physical machine where someone can insert cash and receive cryptocurrency in return.
In this article, I’ll share how I approached building a Crypto ATM, the technologies I used, and what I learned along the way.
Understanding the Problem
As a programmer, one of the most important skills is understanding the problem deeply before jumping into coding.
A big project like a Crypto ATM can seem intimidating at first, so it’s important to break it down into smaller, manageable tasks. Once you do that, everything starts to feel achievable.
Another key skill is being a good researcher. You need to know how to find the right tools to solve specific problems, while being aware of your current skill set so that you can be as efficient as possible.
🤖 Using AI the Right Way
Let’s be honest — AI has changed everything. Building projects today has never been easier if you know how to use AI the right way.
But here’s my advice:
Don’t let AI build your project for you without understanding what it’s doing. Especially in something like a Crypto ATM, where security is critical, you can’t afford to just copy and paste code.
Instead, use AI as a research and guidance tool. Let it save you time, help you understand new technologies faster, and point you in the right direction — instead of falling into endless Google searches.
Breaking Down the Core Features of a Crypto ATM
When I started planning the project, I divided it into two main parts:
1. Hardware
2. Software
Then I broke each part down even further.
Hardware Components
Here’s what the physical side of the ATM needs:
A Bill Acceptor – A way to accept money from the customer.
A Touchscreen Display – For the user interface.
A Strong, Secure Body – To hold all components safely, including the cash.
A Computer or Controller – To power the software and communicate with the bill acceptor.
These components form the backbone of the machine. Without them, the ATM is just an empty box.
Software Components
On the software side, here’s what I needed:
Customer-Facing Application
A program that runs directly on the machine and allows customers to interact with it.
Since I’m a web developer, I wanted something familiar — something that felt like building a web app but could run natively on a computer.
After some research (and with the help of AI), I decided to go with Electron. It allows you to build desktop applications using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Transaction Logic (Crypto Sending Mechanism)
This is the code that actually sends crypto from a local wallet in the machine to the customer’s wallet over the blockchain.
For this, I needed to understand how blockchains and wallet transactions work.
I chose USDT on the BSC (Binance Smart Chain) network because it offers very low gas fees, making it affordable for small transactions.
To handle blockchain interactions, I used Web3.js, a popular Node.js library for working with Ethereum-compatible blockchains.
I learned how to connect to an RPC endpoint, sign transactions, and broadcast them to the network. Once I got it working, seeing the first real transaction go through was an amazing moment!
Online Admin Panel
I wanted a way to monitor and manage my Crypto ATM from anywhere.
This part was very much in my comfort zone — I built it using Laravel and FilamentPHP, my favorite combo for building clean, fast, and powerful admin dashboards.
The panel lets me check transaction logs, cash status, and system health remotely.
Building Step by Step
The process of building the ATM is really about iteration.
You don’t need to know everything at once. Just keep breaking down the project into smaller and smaller tasks until each one feels manageable.
Here’s an example of how I approached one of the features:
“A software that will live in the machine and allow customers to use it.”
That’s a pretty big sentence. So I broke it down:
How will I display the interface?
What technology will handle the backend logic?
How will the machine connect to the bill acceptor?
How will it send crypto securely?
Each of those became its own little research topic — and that’s where AI was most helpful. I could quickly ask for the best libraries, hardware options, and methods for integration, saving me hours of manual searching.
💬 Final Thoughts
Building a Crypto ATM is not an easy project — but that’s what makes it exciting.
You’ll need to combine hardware knowledge, blockchain understanding, and software development skills to make it work. But if you take it one piece at a time, it’s absolutely possible — even as a solo developer.
The most important thing is to stay curious, learn continuously, and never be afraid to start something that feels too big.
Because every big project starts with a single line of code — or in this case, a single inserted bill. 💸
If you enjoyed this project and want to follow my journey as I build more cool tech ideas, make sure to follow me on TikTok and Instagram!ryp