Crypto Kiosks: Why Washington Needs New Rules

People in Washington shops are finding small machines that look like ATMs but let you buy or sell digital money. These kiosks are not backed by banks and do not follow the same rules that protect regular banking transactions. They can be handy, but many scammers use them to steal from people who trust the machines. A specialist in fraud prevention has helped victims of tech‑support scams and fake government calls. In those cases, the scammers told people to put cash into a crypto kiosk. Once the digital money is sent, it cannot be taken back, and the victim rarely gets any of it back. Older adults are especially at risk because they often trust authority figures and may not be familiar with new technology.The FBI counted almost 11, 000 complaints about crypto kiosks in 2024 and found that more than $246 million was lost. Of those cases, 85 percent involved people who were 60 years old or older. This shows that the problem is growing and that older citizens are a prime target. Washington lawmakers have already passed a bill, Senate Bill 5280, that would set limits on how much money can be sent or received at these kiosks. It would also require the machines to give receipts and display clear warnings about scams. With around 1, 000 kiosks in the state and many other states already acting, Washington should adopt similar protections. The bill has cleared the Senate and is now up for consideration by the House. Citizens can help by contacting their representatives and urging them to support the new rules, especially to shield older shoppers from fraud.