Bittimaatti and Wapice – flexible cooperation in crypto infrastructure development

Bittimaatti operates a network of crypto ATMs in Finland. The first Bitcoin ATM was installed in Helsinki in 2015 and since then the number of ATMs has expanded, varying between 15–20 across Finland over time. The ATMs allow you to buy and sell different cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum, for cash.

When developing its ATM network, Bittimaatti faced a challenge: it needed broader shoulders and flexibility for software development and infrastructure maintenance. Another challenge was the changing legislation and its requirements. At the time of the first ATMs, EU and Finnish legislation had little to say about cryptocurrencies and trading in them. Over the years, legislation has changed and the ATMs have been equipped with user authentication compliant with Finnish legislation and supporting Finnish authentication methods, as well as with reporting functions and integrations.

Although Bittimaatti does not make its own equipment, it has significantly developed the backend system of its network over the years, especially to meet changing legislation and security requirements. This calls for software and infrastructure expertise, which became a challenge to maintain as time passed. The equipment manufacturer’s upgrades have necessitated constant customisation and coordination in the roll-out of new features.

“Our policy is always to get to know the software being maintained, and in this case, too, the cooperation started with a thorough review of the architecture and maintenance process. It is also a great way to share tacit customer knowledge with our team,” says Lassi Niemistö, who heads one of Wapice’s six technology units. The plan resulting from the review enabled the Wapice team to propose concrete improvements to security and automation early on, enabling reliable and cost-effective maintenance in the future.

In addition to troubleshooting and basic maintenance, the Wapice team immediately began working on a major upgrade, which essentially involved the implementation of KYC (Know Your Customer) functions required by law. Changes in legislation have been taken into account throughout the cooperation. At the beginning of 2025, stricter legislation came into force, and Wapice ensured that the ATMs and backend systems were ready in good time to meet the new requirements. The team has developed various smaller tools and integrations for accounting and reporting needs.

An essential part of maintaining the system is looking after the servers. Wapice has developed process automation, including automatic updates instead of the old manual scripts. The maintenance and installation of Linux servers has been taken care of, and the updating and pooling of documentation has been an ongoing theme. The aim is to make work more efficient and reduce the risk of human error and loss of tacit information.

Bittimaatti and Wapice will continue to work together to make systems even more secure and cost-effective in the future. Both parties have learned a lot along the way and it has been rewarding to work together.

“Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have become much more familiar during the cooperation. At the start, it felt like jumping straight into the deep end as software was developed by the equipment supplier and the documentation was inadequate, but problems can be overcome with a hacker’s attitude. It has been rewarding to see that our findings prompted the equipment manufacturer to make fixes to their software,” says Tuomo Jauhiainen, a member of the Wapice team.

Good practices in software maintenance and security have been at the heart of the cooperation. It has been important to see how critical well maintained information is to business continuity, especially in situations of staff turnover.

Wapice’s maintenance and further development services offer a flexible and expert partnership for both small and large software projects. We have special expertise in maintaining software developed for your specific needs. We also provide infrastructure-focused maintenance and a SOC (Security Operations Center) capability can be included in the package if required. Whether it is an old system or a modern technology solution, we are happy to help.

It is important for us to build a strong, personal relationship with our customers. Our Service Desk system streamlines work management and enables a rapid response, even 24/7. We offer a scalable service model where security, cost-effectiveness and continuity are key.