Outerwall cooperated with the US Mint in the introduction of the Golden Dollar at the beginning of the millennium and encouraged people to use coins rather than notes.

[8] In February 2009, Coinstar purchased all remaining shares of DVD rental kiosk company Redbox for $175 million from McDonald's Corporation, making Outerwall the sole owner.

[11] On July 2, 2013, Outerwall acquired mobile phone recycling kiosk operator ecoATM, for $350 million (not including debt).

"[13] Subsequently, on December 9, 2013, Outerwall's former CEO, J. Scott Di Valerio, announced it would discontinue three new ventures: Redbox's Rubi, Crisp Market, and Star Studio, and lay off 8.5% of its workforce.

When the machine finishes counting coins, it issues a scrip, called a voucher, which the user can redeem at the place of business providing the coin-counting service at face value for currency.

The same mode of operation and redemption is provided on those Coinstar machines situated in Great Britain, Canada, Eurozone, and Puerto Rico.

If the user chooses the fee-free option, the machine issues a plastic gift card or, in the case of online merchants like Amazon.com, a voucher with a redemption code valid only for a single use, where after any remaining balance is forfeit regardless of amount.

By 2006, Outerwall has raised more than $20 million for charities including the American Red Cross Disaster Relief fund, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and UNICEF's Trick or Treat program.

[21] In May 2016, in the wake of a New York state lawsuit over accuracy, TD Bank said that it had suspended use of its Penny Arcade machines and would be removing them from all of its locations.

The employee was accused of illegally accessing the Coinstar machines' cash boxes ahead of armored car pickups.