Americans Lose Over $330m to Bitcoin ATM Scams in 2025, FBI Reports
Americans lost more than $330 million to Bitcoin ATM scams last year as cryptocurrency-related fraud continued to rise, according to new figures released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The FBI said victims were defrauded of about $333.5 million between January and November 2025 through scams linked to cryptocurrency kiosks, with older adults accounting for a significant share of the losses. The agency warned that reports of such crimes have increased steadily in recent years and show no sign of slowing.
Bitcoin ATMs, which allow users to buy digital currency with cash or transfer funds by scanning a wallet QR code, have become increasingly common across the United States. More than 45,000 of the machines are now in operation nationwide. While some also allow users to exchange cryptocurrency for cash, authorities say their structure makes them attractive to fraudsters because crypto transactions are difficult to trace or reverse once completed.
Losses linked to Bitcoin ATM scams first crossed the $100 million mark in 2023. That figure rose sharply in 2024 and climbed again in 2025, reflecting what the FBI described as a “clear and consistent upward trend”.
Regulators have begun taking action against ATM operators. In September, the Washington, DC attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit against Athena Bitcoin, one of the largest providers in the country, alleging that the company collected substantial undisclosed fees from scam-related transactions. The suit also claimed that the majority of transactions on Athena’s machines in the district were tied to fraud and that many victims were elderly.
Athena has rejected the allegations, saying it has fraud-prevention measures in place, including clear warnings, customer education and transaction monitoring. The company said it cannot control individual user decisions, likening its role to that of a traditional bank.
Consumer protection groups, however, argue that existing safeguards often fall short, particularly when victims are being pressured by scammers posing as government officials, technical support agents or relatives in crisis. Such schemes frequently rely on urgency and secrecy to convince victims to move cash quickly through Bitcoin ATMs.
In response, lawmakers in several states are considering tougher rules for crypto ATM operators. Proposals under discussion include limits on transaction amounts, mandatory waiting periods before transfers are completed, and stronger on-screen warnings. Some measures would also require companies to compensate victims in certain circumstances.
The FBI continues to urge the public to remain vigilant, stressing that legitimate businesses, government agencies and law enforcement bodies do not request payments in cryptocurrency. Officials say anyone asked to pay via a Bitcoin ATM should treat it as a strong warning sign of fraud.
