Crypto ATM ID verification: what KYC looks like step by step
You walk up to a crypto ATM. The screen glows. You tap “Buy Bitcoin.” The machine asks for a phone number. That is the first step. Every operator uses it. Without a number, the machine will not proceed.
Enter your mobile number. The ATM sends a six-digit code via SMS. Type it in. This links your session to a phone. It also checks if that number is already registered with the operator. If it is, you may be asked to log in instead of starting fresh. Some networks reject numbers tied to too many previous accounts. No clear threshold is published. You just get an error: “Phone number already in use.”
Next comes the identity tier. Most machines offer two paths.
Path one: No ID, low limits. You skip the ID scan. The ATM asks for your name and address only. These are typed, not verified. The machine trusts what you enter. Limits are low - typically $100 to $900 per day, depending on the operator. Transaction size is capped. You cannot buy large amounts. This path exists for speed. It takes about two minutes. The downside is that you cannot raise your limit later without submitting full KYC.
Path two: Full verification. You choose to access higher limits. The machine now demands a government-issued ID. Acceptable forms usually include a passport, driver’s license, or national ID card. The ATM’s camera activates. Place the ID face-up on the scanning surface. The machine reads the document’s machine-readable zone - the two lines of text at the bottom. It extracts your full name, date of birth, and ID number. The scan must be clear. Blurry images, glare, or a partially cut-off document cause a rejection. Expired IDs are always rejected. So are IDs that list a name different from the one you typed earlier. The machine compares the two. If they do not match, the process stops.
After the ID scan, the camera takes a live selfie. The ATM compares your face to the photo on the ID. This is called liveness detection. It checks that you are a real person, not a photo of a photo. You may need to blink or turn your head slightly. The match must be close. Significant weight changes, heavy makeup, or wearing sunglasses can cause a fail. The machine also checks that the selfie was taken now, not from a saved image. If the match fails, you can retry once or twice. After that, the machine locks you out for 24 hours.
Once your face matches your ID, the operator’s backend verifies the document against government databases. This step can take 30 seconds to two minutes. You wait at the machine. A green checkmark appears. Your daily limit increases. Common accessible limits range from $3,000 to $10,000 per day. Some operators allow higher after multiple successful transactions.
Common rejection reasons are predictable. Expired IDs top the list. Next is a name mismatch - your typed name differs from the ID’s name. Then poor scan quality. Then the selfie fails liveness. Then the phone number is already in use by another account. Operators rarely explain which specific error occurred. They show a generic “Verification failed” message. You can retry after 24 hours.
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The process is not fast. Full verification can take five to ten minutes at the machine. The low-limit path is faster but restricts what you can buy. Choose based on how much you want to spend. If you plan to buy more than a few hundred dollars, bring your ID. If you just want to try the machine, the no-ID path works.
That is what KYC at a crypto ATM looks like. Phone number. SMS code. Choose your tier. Scan your ID. Take a selfie. Wait for approval. Then you can buy.
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