Haverhill, Massachusetts, is moving toward a citywide ban that would force all crypto ATMs and kiosks out within 60 days, with operators facing $300 daily fines if they do not comply.
Council Vote Puts Ban On TrackThe ordinance was introduced on March 17 by Mayor Melinda E. Barrett and cleared an initial City Council vote 11-0, putting it on the council’s agenda for further review.
The move places Haverhill in a growing group of US communities taking aim at crypto kiosks after reports of scams and other illegal activity.
In Minnesota, a lawmaker introduced a bill in February that could ban crypto kiosks, building on a 2024 law that already imposed limits on ATM operators.
Haverhill’s proposal does not stand alone; it fits a pattern that has been spreading city by city and state by state.
In Haverhill’s case, the city said users may have little ability to recover funds once a transaction is complete. That concern was central to the proposed ordinance, which framed the machines as a risk to residents rather than a convenience for them.
Haverhill-area data from CoinATMRadar and Bitcoin Depot pointed to eight or more machines in the local area.
Authorities in Iowa and Massachusetts have also sued the company, accusing it of helping facilitate crypto scams.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
