Filip Roose runs Orillia, a Belgian startup that places Bitcoin ATMs across the country. The company installed Belgium's first Bitcoin ATM last year and now eyes expansion into the rest of Europe, Lat
Filip Roose runs Orillia, a Belgian startup that places Bitcoin ATMs across the country. The company installed Belgium's first Bitcoin ATM last year and now eyes expansion into the rest of Europe, Latin America, and North America. He spoke with MiningPool about the machines, the business, and Bitcoin's prospects despite recent price volatility.
When Orillia set up its first machine, Roose researched the available options and settled on a one-way model. He wanted something easy for customers to use. The regulatory requirements alone—installing what amounts to a small bank involves government compliance—demanded careful planning. A Bitcoin Meetup connected Roose to GameSwap, a business in Ghent, which became the first installation site.
Roose prices Orillia's machines well below competitors. Robocoin machines cost nearly ten times more. Robocoin invested heavily in research and development, Roose figures. Orillia took a different path. His developers drew on existing technologies rather than building from scratch. Former casino machine designers on his team understand security, counterfeit detection, and vandalism prevention. When Orillia bought its first device from General Bytes, Roose hired designers to improve it. General Bytes made that upgrade path possible through flexible software that could keep pace with the evolving cryptocurrency space.
Other Bitcoin ATM makers employ capable people, Roose acknowledges. But he chose General Bytes based on stability, flexibility, and security. The industry should collaborate at this stage, he believes, not undercut each other.
With more than 65,000 businesses now accepting Bitcoin, Roose sees strategic placements for the machines. He looks for areas where multiple merchants already take Bitcoin. Customers need somewhere to buy Bitcoin, after all. High foot traffic, long hours, accessible locations all matter. Businesses that start accepting Bitcoin in areas with existing machines inspire neighboring shops to follow suit.
Belgians embrace digital payments—debit cards, credit cards. But POS terminals and ATMs carry steep costs, pricing out small businesses like restaurants and clubs. Credit card companies take a percentage of sales. Bitcoin and Orillia's ATMs eliminate both problems. Roose targets student neighborhoods too. Young people haven't yet adopted banking assumptions and stay open to alternatives.
Merchants who install a Bitcoin ATM tap into passionate advocates. Bitcoin enthusiasts flock to businesses that accept the currency, bringing new customers. Bitcoin commands media attention, prompting locals to ask questions when a shop advertises acceptance. The ATM itself removes friction—customers have an easy way to acquire Bitcoin on-site.
Orillia has placed machines only in Belgium so far. Several projects are underway. Roose maintains contacts throughout Europe and pursues two potential Latin American locations and another in Manhattan. His focus goes to places that benefit both residents and tourists. Cash and credit cards pose safety risks in some areas. Cryptocurrency offers a way forward.
The European Union has largely avoided Bitcoin regulation. Paul Koster, president of the Netherlands Stockholders Association, called for a Bitcoin ban, citing risk. Roose dismisses the concern. Mathias Kroner, CEO of Fidor Germany, captured his view: "You will not be able to explain Bitcoin to bankers...because they are bankers." Koster, Roose suspects, misunderstands Bitcoin because he fears change. Bitcoin carries risks, sure—yet it retains value many times higher than two years ago.
Bitcoin's price has dropped recently. Orillia hasn't suffered. The machines work one-way, so panic sales don't affect volume. Roose has watched transaction counts climb. As price falls, acceptance grows. He sees opportunity where others see panic.
Merchants can adopt Bitcoin through apps and services like BitPay or the Dutch BitKassa if they want to avoid holding Bitcoin themselves. Setup takes under 30 minutes with no cost.
European interest in Bitcoin is rising, Roose contends. Price swings concern traders and investors, not consumers. People want faster, cheaper ways to spend and send money. Bitcoin's price volatility has paradoxically broadened awareness through press coverage. Skeptics point to the recent drops as proof Bitcoin will collapse. They forget the dot-com crash of 2000. The internet survived that and emerged stronger. Bitcoin differs—finance carries more caution than information—yet the parallel holds. Bubbles shake traders. Ordinary people rarely feel the impact.
