Australia Halts Cryptolink Registration, Shuts Down 96 Bitcoin ATMs

Australia has taken another major step to tighten its grip on Crypto ATMs. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has reportedly suspended the registration of Cryptolink for three months. This move has resulted in the temporary shutdown of 96 Bitcoin ATMs across the country.

According to the regulator, Cryptolink failed to comply with the country’s transaction reporting standards. The company has also allegedly declined to respond to the authority’s information request.

Australia shuts down 92 Bitcoin ATMs

The latest reports claim that Australia’s financial regulator suspended the registration of Cryptolink, a fintech company that runs 96 Bitcoin ATMs across the country. With AUSTRAC’s latest move, all these crypto ATMs were forced to shut down.

As per reports, the suspension took place on August 9, 2026. Over the next three months, Cryptolink will be restricted from operating its 96 Bitcoin ATMs located in major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Cryptolink faces scrutiny over compliance issues

Notably, the increased regulatory scrutiny comes after the AUSTRAC identified the fintech company’s failure to comply with the authority’s guidelines. The regulator alleged that the company did not respond to the government’s information request.

The AUSTRAC noted that the fintech company did not meet certain transaction reporting requirements. Especially, the regulator pointed to issues such as threshold transaction reports. As noted by AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas, the regulator still has concerns about Cryptolink’s ability to manage its Bitcoin ATMs and their high-risk transactions. He stated, 

“As part of our continued focus on digital currency as a money laundering risk, AUSTRAC has ongoing concerns about the company’s ability to manage high-risk transactions through its CATMs.” 

It is worth noting that Cryptolink has faced regulatory scrutiny multiple times. Previously, in October 2025, the company entered into an enforceable undertaking. This is after the Cryptocurrency Taskforce identified the company’s late transaction reporting issues. The agency also noted its weakness in anti-money laundering and risk management practices.

Unveiling Australia’s broader crypto ATM crackdown

Interestingly, AUSTRAC’s action on Cryptolink comes as part of the country’s broader crackdown over crypto ATMs. As the number of Bitcoin ATMs in the country has grown rapidly, the government has become more concerned about their risky operations.

Six years ago, the country had just 23 crypto machines. But now, the number has grown to around 2,000 by October 2025, making Australia one of the biggest crypto ATM markets. Amid this massive growth, the country raised concerns about the misuse of these machines. According to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Bitcoin ATMs are largely connected to scams, fraud, money laundering and other illegal activities. Since then, AUSTRAC has started giving a closer look at crypto ATMs.

Global crackdown on Bitcoin ATMs intensifies

Australia is not alone in crypto ATM crackdowns. More countries are intensifying their scrutiny over these machines, considering rising scams and threats. While many cases reported significant financial losses, some incidents have gone even further, with victims reportedly facing physical assault.

Why using a Bitcoin ATM is one of the worst ways of buying crypto

In the US, several states have launched stricter rules for Bitcoin ATMs. While some authorities imposed transaction limits, others have even launched outright bans. Canada has also taken a tougher approach, with the federal government proposing a nationwide ban on crypto ATMs in 2026. In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned that the crypto ATMs should be completely shut down if they fail to meet regulatory requirements.

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