Benton County Joins Kennewick in Banning Cryptocurrency Kiosks Over Scam Concerns

Benton County in Washington state is the latest to ban cryptocurrency kiosks, following a similar decision by the city of Kennewick. The Benton County Board of Commissioners voted on July 7 to prohibit all cryptocurrency kiosks in unincorporated areas of the county.

The ordinance was proposed by the sheriff's and prosecutor's offices, citing concerns about the growing threat of fraud these machines pose to residents. According to a memo to the board, the ban aims to mitigate against scams involving cryptocurrency kiosks, which have been linked to nearly 40 cases since 2023, with total losses estimated at $923,771.

The biggest individual losses involve those over the age of 60, with one victim losing $140,000 in 2025 and a 78-year-old being scammed out of $100,000 this year. Scammers convince victims to deposit cash into untraceable cryptocurrency wallets by impersonating loved ones or government entities.

The machines themselves charge transaction fees between 15% and 25%, increasing victims' losses. Companies that own and operate the machines have refused to cooperate in investigations and threatened legal action if machines are seized as evidence, police officials said.