ST. PAUL — Beginning Aug. 1, cryptocurrency kiosks will no longer operate in Minnesota under a new state law designed to shut down one of scammers' most effective tools for stealing money from consumers.

The law makes Minnesota one of the first states in the nation to ban cryptocurrency kiosks after criminals increasingly used the machines to steal nearly a million dollars from Minnesotans through sophisticated fraud schemes. Kiosks must be taken offline by Aug. 1 and physically removed from stores by Dec. 31.

For Woodbury resident Sharon Fleming, the law comes after she unknowingly deposited thousands of dollars into cryptocurrency kiosks at multiple Twin Cities convenience stores because a scammer convinced her that her bank account was at risk.

Like many victims, Fleming believed she was protecting her savings. Instead, she was transferring money directly to a criminal. Once the funds were deposited into kiosks, recovering them was nearly impossible.

Fleming is one of the few victims who got all her money back. Many other Minnesotans have not been as fortunate.

"There is no safe crypto kiosk," said Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold. "Every complaint represents a Minnesotan whose life was turned upside down by a scammer. By banning these machines, Minnesota is shutting down one of the most effective tools scammers have used to steal from consumers."

The law prohibits physical cryptocurrency kiosks in Minnesota while continuing to allow people to access digital currency through regulated online platforms, which typically offer stronger consumer protections and lower user fees.

Between 2023 and 2025, the Minnesota Department of Commerce investigated 134 complaints involving cryptocurrency kiosks. Minnesotans have reported losing nearly $1 million through these scams.

These investigations frequently cross city, county, state, and international boundaries and require coordination among local law enforcement, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), federal partners, financial institutions, cryptocurrency companies, and regulatory agencies.

"Cryptocurrency kiosks have become a powerful tool for scammers, allowing them to take and move a victim's money in a matter of minutes — often before anyone can intervene," said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. "This ban closes a major pathway criminals have used to steal significant amounts of money from Minnesotans."

The legislation banning kiosks was supported by a bipartisan coalition of law enforcement, lawmakers, and consumer advocates, including AARP Minnesota.

Sister Agnes Foley of St. Paul also urged lawmakers to act after a scammer convinced her that her computer and bank account were at risk and directed her to use a cryptocurrency kiosk on Ford Parkway. She avoided losing money after stopping to seek help, but said the experience left her shaken.

"My hope is that Minnesota can stop the thieves involved in Bitcoin," Foley had told lawmakers.

"Older adults are frequently targeted by sophisticated financial scams, but the truth is anyone can become a victim," said Jim Glass, AARP Minnesota volunteer and former bank regulator. "This law will help prevent future losses, and continued education is critical so Minnesotans know the warning signs and feel confident reporting fraud."

Although cryptocurrency kiosks will no longer operate in Minnesota, officials caution that scammers will continue adapting their tactics.

"Criminals constantly evolve and spend years perfecting their scams," said Commerce Assistant Commissioner of Enforcement Sara Payne. "They create panic, impersonate trusted organizations, and pressure people to act immediately. We want people to know they didn't 'fall for a scam' – they were the victim of a crime. And there is no shame in that. The courageous Minnesotans who came forward with their stories of loss played a huge role in the passage of this law banning cryptocurrency kiosks in the state and saving others from harm."

While the crypto kiosk ban removes one important tool from scammers' playbooks, consumers should always be suspicious of anyone demanding immediate payment or telling them to keep a financial transaction secret.

Fleming is sharing her story publicly in hopes others will recognize the warning signs before becoming victims themselves.

"I never imagined something like this could happen to me," Fleming said. "If sharing my experience prevents even one person from losing their savings, then it's worth it."

Commerce staff have been working with kiosk operators to ensure the machines are turned off and physically removed from stores. Anyone who finds an activated kiosk can report it to: virtualcurrencykioskreporting.COMM@state.mn.us.

Protect yourself from scams

Commerce, the BCA, local law enforcement and AARP encourage Minnesotans to remember three simple steps:

1. Stop. Scammers rely on urgency. If someone pressures you to act immediately, take a moment before sending money or sharing personal information.
2. Verify. Contact the organization, business or family member directly using a trusted phone number or website — not the contact information provided by the person who reached out to you.
3. Report. If you believe you've been targeted by a scam, report it to the Minnesota Department of Commerce or your local law enforcement agency. Reporting helps investigators identify fraud trends and may prevent additional victims.

Common warning signs

Be cautious if someone tells you to:

• Act immediately or face serious consequences.
• Keep the conversation or payment a secret.
• Send money to protect your bank account or investments.
• Pay with cryptocurrency, gift cards or wire transfers.
• Trust only the caller and not speak with family, friends or your financial institution.

If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before sending money.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce is here to help

Minnesota consumers and businesses can contact Commerce's Enforcement division about concerns or complaints:

• File a complaint online
• Email: consumer.protection@state.mn.us
• Call: 651-539-1600

Resources from AARP

Minnesotans can also get fraud prevention tips and support through the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or by calling the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360.

Connect with the Minnesota Commerce Department

Get updates and news from the Minnesota Department of Commerce by following Commerce at mn.gov/commerce or @MNCommerce on social media.

Contact

Jen Longaecker | Media Relations and Public Affairs Director
Minnesota Department of Commerce
651-478-9457
news.commerce@state.mn.us