Minnesota bans crypto kiosks after residents lost nearly $1M to scams

Minnesota just ran out of patience with crypto kiosks. Governor Tim Walz signed a statewide ban on the machines into law on May 5, 2026, following a wave of scams that drained nearly $1 million from residents over roughly two years. The kiosks have to stop operating by August 1, 2026, and must be physically removed by December 31, 2026. Minnesota now joins Tennessee and Indiana as the only states in the US to fully prohibit crypto kiosks. What actually happened to residents Between 2023 and 2025, residents filed over 100 complaints with the Minnesota Department of Commerce tied to crypto kiosk scams. In 2025 alone, 70 recorded cases resulted in losses exceeding $540,000. One case that drew particular attention involved an 80-year-old victim who lost $80,000 to a single scam routed through a crypto kiosk. Investigators in Faribault separately identified losses surpassing $500,000, and authorities have noted that figure is likely underreported, since many victims, especially seniors, never come forward out of embarrassment. The scams themselves followed recognizable playbooks: fake emergency calls, impersonation of government officials, and romance schemes. The common thread is urgen...