After completing a transaction at a Bitcoin ATM, the cryptocurrency may not appear in your wallet immediately. The same applies when selling cryptocurrency - you may only be able to collect the cash after the transaction has been confirmed by the blockchain network.
This doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with the device.
You can check the transaction status using TXID, your cryptocurrency wallet, and the appropriate blockchain explorer. It is also useful to understand the difference between a pending and a confirmed transaction, and when to contact customer support.
If you are still planning your transaction, you can first check the map of Bitcoin ATMs in Switzerland and choose a suitable location.
What happens after a transaction is approved at a Bitcoin ATM?
Once the transaction is approved, its details must be sent to the appropriate blockchain network.
In simple terms, the process works as follows:
- The transaction is created.
- It is sent to the appropriate blockchain network.
- It awaits confirmation.
- It receives additional network confirmations.
- Once the required conditions are met, the transaction is processed.
When you buy cryptocurrency, the funds are sent to the wallet address provided during the transaction. If you want to learn about the entire process from the beginning, read the guide to buying Bitcoin with cash at a Bitcoin ATM.
When selling cryptocurrency, the process works the other way around—the user sends cryptocurrency to the specified address, and cash becomes available once the transaction has received the required confirmation.
What is a TXID?
TXID, or Transaction ID, is a unique identifier for a transaction recorded on the blockchain. It can be compared to a tracking number, which allows you to check the status of a specific transaction.
A TXID allows you to check, among other things:
- whether the transaction has been sent to the network
- whether it is still awaiting confirmation
- how many confirmations it has received
- the address the funds were sent from
- the address the funds were sent to
- the transaction amount
A TXID is not a password or a private key. The transaction ID itself can be used to check the transaction's status in a public blockchain explorer.
If you want to better understand why transactions are recorded and confirmed this way, also read the guide to what blockchain is and how it works.
Where can I find a transaction's TXID?
Where you find the TXID depends on the type of transaction you're making.
When selling cryptocurrency
If you send cryptocurrency from your wallet as part of a sale, the TXID usually appears in the wallet's transaction history after you send the funds.
Open the details of the completed transaction and look for a label such as:
- Transaction ID
- Transaction Hash
- TXID
- Hash
When buying cryptocurrency
After buying cryptocurrency at a Bitcoin ATM, the incoming transaction may appear in your wallet history once it has been sent to the network.
Once you open the transaction details, you can check its TXID and current status.
Some wallets also allow you to go directly to a blockchain explorer.
How do I check a transaction's status using its TXID?
You can look up the TXID in a block explorer for the relevant blockchain network.
It is important to use a block explorer that supports the network on which the transaction was made. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tron, BNB Smart Chain and Solana use different networks and different block explorers.
After looking up the TXID, you may see one of several statuses.
Pending transaction
This means that the transaction was sent to the network but has not yet received the required number of confirmations.
Confirmed transaction
The blockchain network has recorded the transaction, and it has received at least one confirmation.
Additional confirmations
As more blocks are added, the number of transaction confirmations increases.
For certain operations, the system may require a specific number of confirmations before it considers a transaction ready for further processing.
Why hasn't the cryptocurrency appeared in your wallet yet?
Not having funds in your wallet immediately after making a purchase does not necessarily mean that the transaction failed.
Possible reasons include:
- waiting for the transaction to be sent to the network
- time needed for blockchain confirmations
- high network congestion
- delayed balance update in the wallet app
First, check your wallet history and transaction status.
If a TXID is available, you can also check it directly in a blockchain explorer.
What determines the transaction confirmation time?
There is no single confirmation time that applies to every cryptocurrency.
Transaction speed can depend, among other things, on:
- the blockchain network used
- current network congestion
- type of cryptocurrency
- the required number of confirmations
Therefore, rather than assuming that every transaction should be completed within a certain number of minutes, it is better to check its actual status.
Selling Cryptocurrency – When Can You Collect Cash?
When selling cryptocurrency, the funds must be sent to the address specified when creating the transaction.
Next, you must wait for the required confirmations on the blockchain.
Once the transaction has been processed successfully, you receive a code needed to collect the cash. Keep the code until the withdrawal is complete.
At the Bitcoin ATM:
- Prepare the sale transaction
- Send cryptocurrency to the specified address
- Wait for the required confirmations
- Save the withdrawal code you received
- scan the code at the Bitcoin ATM
- collect your cash
You can find the full process in the guide on how to sell cryptocurrency and collect cash at a Bitcoin ATM.
Why isn't the withdrawal code working yet?
If a code has been generated but the ATM still does not allow you to collect cash, one possible reason is that the transaction has not yet completed all required steps.
First, check:
- whether the cryptocurrency was actually sent
- whether the correct network was used
- whether the transaction has a TXID
- whether it has received the required confirmations
- whether you are using the correct withdrawal code
Do not send the same amount a second time just because the first transaction is still pending confirmation.
What should you do if a transaction is taking a long time?
First, check the status of the transaction in your wallet and in the appropriate blockchain explorer.
If a transaction is shown as pending, it means that it has already been sent to the network but is still awaiting confirmation.
If this takes unusually long or the details do not match your transaction, contact customer support.
Before contacting customer support, have the most important transaction information ready.
What information should you have ready for customer support?
To make it easier to troubleshoot the problem, you should have the following ready:
- the Bitcoin ATM location
- the approximate date and time of the transaction
- type of cryptocurrency
- the selected blockchain network
- TXID, if available
- withdrawal code or transaction confirmation, if generated
- brief description of the problem
However, do not share your recovery phrase, private key, or wallet password. This information is not needed to check the status of a transaction.
If you need help, go to the contact page and Bitcoin ATM support section.
Does the absence of a TXID mean that the transaction failed?
Not always.
A TXID is generated only after a transaction has been created and submitted to the blockchain network.
If the transaction was just completed, the system may still be processing it. It's a good idea to first check your wallet history and the information received during the transaction.
If the TXID does not appear for an extended period and you see no change in status, contact customer support.
Summary – How to Check the Status of a Bitcoin ATM Transaction
You can check the status of a Bitcoin ATM transaction primarily using TXID, your wallet history, and the appropriate blockchain explorer. If the transaction is still awaiting confirmation, this does not automatically mean there is a problem with the ATM—processing time depends, among other things, on the selected cryptocurrency, the network, and current network congestion.
When selling cryptocurrency, cash may only become available after the required confirmations have been received. If the transaction is taking unusually long, have the TXID, Bitcoin ATM location, transaction time and other transaction details ready, then contact customer support.
Never share your recovery phrase or private key - you don't need them to check the status of a transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
A TXID is a unique transaction identifier on a blockchain network. It allows you to check the transaction's status, the number of confirmations, addresses, and other public information related to the transaction.
Find the TXID in your wallet and look it up in a Bitcoin network explorer. There, you'll see the current status and the number of confirmations.
Not always. The transaction may still be waiting to be sent or confirmed on the network. First, check your wallet history and the transaction's current status.
There is no single fixed time. The processing time depends, among other things, on the cryptocurrency, the blockchain network, its current load, and the required number of confirmations.
You can collect the cash once the conditions required to confirm the transaction have been met and the withdrawal has been prepared. Once you receive the appropriate code, you can use it at a Bitcoin ATM.
Check whether the transaction has been confirmed and whether you are using the correct code. If the problem persists, contact customer support and have your transaction information ready.
No. Never share your recovery phrase or private key with anyone. To check a transaction, information such as the TXID, Bitcoin ATM location, transaction time and transaction details is sufficient.
