Catalonian company Bitchain has installed a new bitcoin ATM in the municipality of La Jonquera, next to the Spanish-French border. 

The BTM was placed in the commercial centre Gran Jonquera and is intended to serve the needs of not only local bitcoiners but also customers from across the border.

This is the sixth bitcoin ATM operated by Bitchain at the moment. The company previously installed two machines in Barcelona, one in Hospitalet de Llobregat, one in Madrid and one in Athens. The latter appeared at The Cube centre for innovation in July and allowed withdrawal of up to €1,000 per transaction despite governmental limits imposed on cash withdrawals in the midst of the Greek economic crisis. More than 25 transactions were reported during only the first day of the BTM’s work.The event gained attention in the international media and was covered by more than 35 news agencies.

The installation of a BTM in Barcelona, in the underground and railway station at Plaza España, has been labelled as a “historic day for Bitchain”, according to the company’s blog. It was the first Bitchain's BTM opened in a public space. 

Over the last year Catalonia was on the forefront of Bitcoin adoption in Spain. Previously, CoinFox reported that Pompeu Fabra University became the first university in Spain to install a bitcoin ATM, in collaboration with BTCPoint. In October Pompeu Fabra University and Barcelona Bitcoin Community also started a joint program of workshops dedicated to study, development, and discussion of cryptocurrency.

Diana Bogdan