Jackson Bans Crypto Kiosks Amid National Scam Epidemic
The city of Jackson in Michigan has banned cryptocurrency kiosks following a rise in scams nationwide. According to FBI data, virtual currency kiosk-related complaints resulted in more than $388 million in losses nationally in 2025, a 58% spike in losses compared to 2024.
More than half of those losses came from victims over the age of 50, and Michigan alone saw residents lose over $210 million to crypto-related fraud in 2025. AARP Michigan pushed for the ordinance, citing concerns that scammers target older adults using fear, romance, and greed to rope them into buying virtual currencies.
Jackson's city council passed a unanimous vote on Tuesday, banning all cryptocurrency kiosks within the city limits. The new law prohibits anyone from installing or operating these machines, as well as 'cashier-facilitated' crypto transactions, where a store employee manually processes an exchange for a customer.