Individuals misplaced $333 million to crypto ATM fraud final yr alone. That staggering quantity sits on the coronary heart of why Bitcoin Depot, the nation’s largest Bitcoin ATM operator, simply made a sweeping change to the way it does enterprise — one which impacts each single one that walks as much as one among its machines.
Beginning this February, the corporate started rolling out a requirement for purchasers to indicate identification earlier than finishing any transaction, not simply when signing up for the primary time. No ID, no Bitcoin. Easy as that.
A Historical past Of Half-Measures
It isn’t as if Bitcoin Depot had by no means tried to handle fraud earlier than. Again in October 2025, the corporate launched ID checks for brand new customers becoming a member of the platform. However returning prospects? They may hold transacting with out additional scrutiny. Critics say that hole was vast sufficient for unhealthy actors to slide by way of — and the numbers counsel they did precisely that.
The FBI’s knowledge on crypto ATM-related fraud losses final yr made it unimaginable to disregard the size of the issue. Scammers, lots of them concentrating on aged Individuals, have perfected a disturbing routine: they coach victims into feeding money into Bitcoin ATMs underneath false pretenses — pretend authorities notices, phony tech help calls — then vanish as soon as the cash clears. As a result of Bitcoin transactions can’t be reversed, victims are virtually all the time left with nothing.
Authorized Warmth From All Instructions
Bitcoin Depot has not simply been coping with unhealthy headlines. It has been coping with attorneys. Massachusetts Legal professional Normal Andrea Campbell filed a lawsuit in opposition to the corporate this month, alleging it knowingly allowed crypto scams to occur whereas stripping away fraud protections.
Campbell’s workplace requested a courtroom to dam Bitcoin Depot from accepting any transaction above $10,000 except extra fraud-prevention steps had been taken.
Maine informed a unique story — one with a price ticket. The corporate reached a $1.9 million settlement with that state’s shopper credit score bureau after agreeing to return cash to rip-off victims. And Iowa’s Supreme Court docket dominated, considerably controversially, that Bitcoin Depot was legally permitted to maintain money deposited by way of scams, since prospects should verify they personal the receiving pockets.
In accordance with reviews, a minimum of 17 US states have now handed legal guidelines demanding higher protections at crypto ATMs, together with each day spending limits and clearer fraud warnings posted on the machines.
9,000 Machines, One New Rule
Bitcoin Depot’s attain is big. Stories say the corporate operates over 9,000 kiosks throughout North America, making it the dominant participant in a US market that accounts for 78% of all Bitcoin ATMs worldwide — greater than 31,000 machines in complete, primarily based on knowledge from Coin ATM Radar.
CEO Scott Buchanan framed the brand new ID coverage as a safety improve, not only a authorized protect. “By requiring identification verification at each transaction, we’re taking a further step to strengthen safety, shield prospects, and keep the integrity of our companies,” he stated.
The corporate says steady verification will permit it to flag suspicious conduct tied to particular prospects, places, or quantities earlier than a transaction is even accepted.
Featured picture from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
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