A silver and blue ATM, perched up next to the espresso bar in a trendy Vancouver coffee shop, could launch a new era for the virtual currency bitcoin, offering an almost instant way to exchange the world's leading virtual money for cash.

The value of a bitcoin soared from $13 in January to a high of $266 in April as more businesses and consumers used them to buy and sell online. Some investors are also treating bitcoins like gold, using them to hedge against currency fluctuations and speculating on their rise.

The kiosk, which looks like the average ATM but with hand and barcode scanners, opened for business on Tuesday and by mid-morning people were lined up to swap their bitcoins for cash, or to deposit cash to buy more bitcoins.

"It's as easy as walking up to a machine, scanning your hand, entering some cash and buying bitcoin," said Jordan Kelley, chief executive of Las Vegas-based Robocoin, the company that builds the ATMs. "With this, it's a 2-minute process. For any online exchange, it's at least two days."

Bitcoins, currently worth about $210 each, can be transferred without going through banks or clearing houses, thereby cutting fees. Users can buy products and services online or in a handful of stores, including the Waves coffee shop where the ATM is located.

With the bitcoin ATM, users scan their hand to confirm identity, then funds move to or from a virtual wallet on their smartphone. The system limits transfers to $1,000 a day, in an effort to curb money laundering and other fraud.

【首台比特币ATM机在温哥华投入使用】相关文章：

★ 纸币印错单词 澳大利亚央行称不影响“使用”

★ 5G网络或干扰气象卫星工作

★ 吃饭的时候刷手机？你就等着变胖吧！

★ 防晒霜不能多涂！化学成分会迅速进入血液

★ 研究：男人更爱不懂装懂 有钱男人更甚

★ 比伯婚礼或将在3月举办？

★ 冬天涂润唇膏？研究显示你的嘴唇可能越来越糟！

★ 小心:心脏病更容易在早上发作

★ 如果一直对孩子说“Yes”效果会怎样?

★ 丈夫沉迷游戏致婚姻破裂 英国妻子最恨魔兽世界