Pennsylvania Lawmakers Aim to Protect Consumers from Cryptocurrency Kiosk Scams

Proposed legislation would require ATM-like crypto kiosks to display anti-fraud warnings and enhance safeguards against financial exploitation.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:00pm

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A photorealistic painting of a solitary cryptocurrency kiosk in a dimly lit urban setting, with warm sunlight casting dramatic shadows across the machine and the surrounding environment, conceptually illustrating the growing issue of cryptocurrency-related scams.As concerns over cryptocurrency scams grow, Pennsylvania lawmakers aim to regulate the ATM-like kiosks that have become a common vector for fraud.Easton Today

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are considering new regulations for cryptocurrency ATM-like kiosks in an effort to protect consumers from scams. The proposed legislation would require kiosk operators to display clear anti-fraud warnings, establish 24/7 customer support, and obtain money transmitter licenses. This comes as the state has seen over 31,000 residents lose $538 million to crypto and AI scams in the past year, with many victims using these kiosks to unknowingly deposit funds into scammers' wallets.

Why it matters

Cryptocurrency scams have become an increasingly pervasive issue, with millions of Americans falling victim and losing billions in recent years. Pennsylvania is taking proactive steps to regulate these kiosks, which have become a common vector for fraud, in order to safeguard residents, especially the elderly who make up a majority of victims.

The details

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 1015, would mandate that crypto kiosk operators display clear warnings about the risks of sending funds to unknown wallets, cancel transactions if users indicate they are not sending to their own wallet, and establish 24/7 customer support. Operators would also need to obtain money transmitter licenses. While some larger kiosk companies support the bill, the state attorney general's office argues the machines 'serve no legitimate purpose' and should be banned entirely, as Indiana recently did.

  • In 2025, over 31,000 Pennsylvanians lost $538 million to cryptocurrency and AI scams.
  • In March 2026, Indiana became the first state to ban cryptocurrency kiosks entirely.

The players

Sen. Pennycuick

The sponsor of Senate Bill 1015, which aims to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks in Pennsylvania.

Chris Edwards

The assistant general counsel of Bitcoin Depot, a company that operates 462 cryptocurrency kiosks in Pennsylvania.

Paul Edger

A senior deputy state attorney general who testified that his office has received 90 complaints about cryptocurrency fraud totaling $12.3 million in losses, with 85% of victims being 60 or older.

Teresa Osborne

The state advocacy director of AARP's Pennsylvania chapter, who stated that fraud estimates are likely an undercount as many victims feel ashamed to report their losses.

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What they’re saying

“As with all new technologies, we have a responsibility to ensure that these advances are not exploited by the bad actors that seem to pop up when new technology emerges. We don't want to stifle innovation. We want to make sure that our policies keep pace with innovation and encourage progress, while protecting the consumers' safety, privacy and confidence.”

— Sen. Pennycuick

“We have a physical warning to start on every single machine. We ask folks, 'Are you sending this Bitcoin that you're about to purchase to a (digital) wallet that you own and control?' … the only correct answer to that is 'yes.' If you answer 'no,' the transaction is cancelled and taken back to the start.”

— Chris Edwards, Assistant General Counsel, Bitcoin Depot

“Our office believes that kiosk operators know scams are occurring at dangerously high numbers and provide only minimal warnings for consumers. As my office sees it, these kiosks serve no other purpose than for scam. I don't see a legitimate purpose for these kiosks when an individual, in my opinion, can do (these transactions) online, through a computer, through their bank or through a legitimate service.”

— Paul Edger, Senior Deputy State Attorney General

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to protect Pennsylvania consumers, especially the elderly, from the growing threat of cryptocurrency-related scams by imposing stricter regulations on the ATM-like kiosks that have become a common vector for fraud. While some argue the kiosks serve no legitimate purpose, others believe they can be operated safely with the proper safeguards in place.