Aroostook County is becoming a cryptocurrency hotspot

CARIBOU, Maine — Maine’s northernmost county is catching on to the cryptocurrency trend.

Cryptocurrency can be accessed in Maine through ATMs offered by different companies. So far the Lewiston-based Maine Bitcoin, LLC has the largest presence, with 33 in the state as well as two in neighboring New Hampshire. The Las Vegas-based Coin Cloud is quickly gaining ground, with more than 20 ATMs statewide. That includes at least 11 in Aroostook County.

Store owners throughout Aroostook have agreed to house the machines, known as Bitcoin ATMs, in exchange for the companies paying rent for each space. While many business owners initially did not think the machines would be popular, they have seen a steady increase in the number of people using the ATMs to purchase, send and trade Bitcoins.