Minnesota Statewide Ban on Crypto ATMs Takes Effect Amid Growing Scams
Minnesota has become the latest state to ban crypto ATMs, joining a growing list of states taking drastic measures against scams targeting vulnerable residents. The ban took effect on August 1, 2026, under bill SF 3868, signed by Governor Tim Walz on May 5, 2026.
The move follows a pattern of scammers using crypto ATMs to swindle panicked victims out of their money. Between 2023 and 2025, Minnesota residents lost around $1 million through scams connected to these machines, with seniors bearing the brunt of the fraud.
State officials tied roughly $151 million in losses to crypto or crypto wallets in 2025 alone, according to data from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. This dwarfs the $1 million specifically linked to ATM scams and underscores how much broader the crypto fraud landscape has become beyond kiosks.