The Albuquerque City Council has officially banned cryptocurrency ATMs and cash-based digital asset transactions. Operators are required to deactivate all devices immediately and remove them within 45 days. The ordinance prohibits the installation, operation, and maintenance of these machines in any city location, including retail stores.
The ban also extends to transactions where employees facilitate crypto purchases or transfers via apps or terminals. However, the city has not restricted personal digital asset ownership, mining, software development, or peer-to-peer online transfers. Violators face potential fines, license revocation, and court-ordered equipment removal.
Council members Stephanie Telles and Tammy Fiebelkorn initiated the measure, citing that approximately 90% of local crypto ATM transactions are linked to fraud. According to FBI data for 2025, Americans reported over 13,400 fraud cases involving crypto ATMs, with total losses exceeding $388 million, a 58% increase in damages year-over-year.
Albuquerque joins other U.S. states, including Delaware, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, and Minnesota, in implementing such bans. The U.S. currently leads the global market with 70.8% of all crypto ATMs. Major operators like CoinFlip, Athena Bitcoin, and Bitstop face increasing regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges across various jurisdictions.
