Wisconsin lawmakers have advanced a bipartisan measure to protect residents from cryptocurrency scams involving kiosks. The bill, which passed the state assembly last month, introduces transaction limits and licensing requirements for operators. It now awaits senate approval amid reports of significant losses to such frauds.
In Madison, Wisconsin, the state assembly recently passed Assembly Bill 968, a bipartisan effort aimed at safeguarding consumers from scams exploiting cryptocurrency kiosks. The legislation seeks to curb criminal activities by imposing new regulations on these machines, which are commonly found in convenience stores, gas stations, and restaurants across the state.
According to the bill's provisions, as amended, operators must set daily transaction limits at $1,000, provide receipts to users, implement identification measures for each transaction, and enable refunds for scam victims. Additionally, crypto-kiosk operators would need to obtain a money transmitter license from the Department of Financial Institutions. Co-author Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) emphasized the need for oversight, stating, “Right now there is no state statute with regards to these crypto machines, and there has to be some oversight.”
The push comes as Americans reportedly lost over $330 million to crypto-kiosk scams in 2025. In Wisconsin alone, more than 700 such kiosks operate statewide. Detective Kevin Bahl of the Green Bay Police Department noted that while scammers often target seniors due to their accumulated savings, younger individuals have also fallen victim, with losses ranging from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands.
The bill, known as Senate Bill 975 in the upper chamber, is expected to be considered when the senate reconvenes in the second week of March. Lawmakers anticipate passage there, followed by review by the governor by April 1. If signed into law, the measures would likely take effect around June.