Overview
- Tennessee prohibited the installation and use of cryptocurrency ATMs statewide, a ban that took effect on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
- Georgia’s law, also in force on July 1, 2026, lets kiosks operate under new duties that cap transaction amounts, require pre-transaction fraud warnings, mandate reporting and require some refunds for scam victims.
- Operators are under growing financial strain, as shown by Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin Depot’s Chapter 11 filing in May after lawsuits and tighter state rules reduced its network and revenue prospects.
- Other states are moving in different directions: Indiana implemented a ban in March 2026, Minnesota will ban kiosks on Aug. 1, 2026, North Carolina’s Senate approved a 12% fee cap now pending in the House, and Delaware and New Jersey have proposed bans.
- Lawmakers cite large consumer losses tied to kiosk scams—AARP-linked figures show about $389 million reported in 2025 with older adults bearing most losses—and the machines’ instant cash-to-crypto feature is central to how scammers force payments, a dynamic that will likely shrink access or push firms to change business models.