Albuquerque bans Bitcoin ATMs, giving operators 45 days to remove them

The Albuquerque City Council passed an ordinance in September 2026 banning cryptocurrency ATMs and cashier-assisted virtual currency transactions, giving operators 45 days to remove their machines. Co-sponsored by Councilors Stephanie W. Telles and Tammy Fiebelkorn, the ban was driven by claims that 90% of local kiosk transactions are fraudulent. While personal crypto ownership remains unaffected, the ban reflects a growing regulatory wave, with Indiana, Tennessee, and Minnesota already enacting statewide bans.

Albuquerque crypto ATM ban

• ▪The Albuquerque cryptocurrency ATM ordinance gives virtual currency kiosk operators and hosting retailers 45 days to remove the physical machines after receiving formal notification.
• ▪The Albuquerque cryptocurrency ATM ban does not affect personal cryptocurrency ownership, allowing residents to buy, sell, hold, mine, and transfer digital currencies online.
• ▪The Albuquerque City Council passed an ordinance in September 2026 banning cryptocurrency kiosks and cashier-assisted virtual currency transactions within city limits.
• ▪Albuquerque City Councilors Stephanie W. Telles and Tammy Fiebelkorn co-sponsored the cryptocurrency ATM ban, citing consumer protection and the targeting of vulnerable residents by scammers.

Crypto kiosk fraud statistics

• ▪A lawsuit by the Washington, D.C. attorney general against Athena Bitcoin alleged that 93% of deposits into its seven local kiosks over five months were fraudulent.
• ▪New Mexico reported $86.6 million in cryptocurrency-related fraud losses in 2025, with $55.8 million of that total involving elderly victims.
• ▪FBI data showed that nationwide cryptocurrency kiosk fraud losses rose 58% year-over-year to $390 million in 2025.
• ▪Albuquerque District 1 Councilor Stephanie W. Telles asserted that 90% of cryptocurrency ATM transactions in Albuquerque are tied to fraud.

Statewide crypto ATM bans

• ▪Indiana, Tennessee, and Minnesota have enacted statewide bans on cryptocurrency ATMs, with Minnesota's ban taking effect in August 2026.
• ▪Delaware, New Jersey, and Texas are considering or advancing legislative measures to restrict or ban cryptocurrency ATMs.

Bitcoin Depot bankruptcy

• ▪Cryptocurrency ATM operator Bitcoin Depot filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2026 and pulled approximately 9,700 kiosks offline.
• ▪Bitcoin Depot chief executive Alex Holmes cited transaction limits and outright bans in some jurisdictions as reasons for the company's May 2026 bankruptcy filing.

Crypto ATM operator impact

• ▪Major cryptocurrency ATM operators with machines in Albuquerque, including CoinFlip, Byte Federal, Bitstop, and Coinme, face removal of their local operations.
• ▪Cryptocurrency ATM operators typically charge transaction fees ranging from 10% to 25%, which is significantly higher than online exchange fees.