Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) became the first university in Spain to install a bitcoin ATM at its Poblenou campus in collaboration with BTCPoint.

Michael Oliver, a professor at the Department of Information Technology and Communications (DTIC), says that they want to encourage a discussion on the impact Internet technologies have on people's lives by educating the public on cryptocurrency use. 

According to the announcement, the profits from the ATM will be invested in students' digital currency research projects and sponsorship activities.

The DTIC plans to promote IT and communications initiatives like digital currency business model building and learning apps creation to improve users' experience in bitcoin implementation.

In close cooperation with the Barcelona Bitcoin Community, a popular meetup for bitcoin enthusiasts, UPF will encourage research and technological innovation. As Oliver claimed “Barcelona has already expressed its willingness that the city has its own currency”.

The University also plans to install a second bitcoin ATM at the Ciutadella campus if the first ATM at the Poblenou campus is a success.

Coinfox recently reported that BitExchange, a Chinese company, launched a programme to install 20 bitcoin ATMs in universities around the world. In May of 2015, BitSent installed 3 ATMs at the campuses of Canadian Simon Fraser University. The number of bitcoin ATMs in the world reached 400 at the end of May.

Daria Petushkova