The FBI reports that Americans lost a staggering $11.366 billion to crypto-related scams in 2025, with cryptocurrency fraud now accounting for over half of all internet crime losses. The agency logged 181,565 crypto complaints, and a growing portion of the damage is linked to Bitcoin ATMs, which generated $389 million in losses across 13,460 complaints. Seniors aged 60 and older were hit hardest, losing $257.4 million through these kiosks.
A Record Year for Crypto Fraud
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) released its 2025 Annual Report on April 6, 2026, revealing that total internet crime losses exceeded $20 billion for the first time. Crypto losses alone topped $11.366 billion, making it the dominant category. "By the time a victim is at a kiosk, they are already deep in the scammer’s trance," said CertiK’s Stefan Muehlbauer, as regulators crack down.
Investment Scams Dominate, but Kiosks Are Rising
The largest chunk of losses came from crypto investment fraud, totaling $7.2 to $7.228 billion across roughly 61,559 complaints—a 25% increase from 2024. However, kiosk-related losses surged 58% year-over-year, prompting cities to act. Spokane, Washington, became the largest U.S. city to ban all crypto ATMs in June 2025, citing widespread fraud. Spokane Valley followed in May 2026, noting at least 10 documented cases of significant financial loss and one confirmed suicide linked to kiosk scams.
Legal Action and Prevention Efforts
In Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwalb sued Athena Bitcoin Inc. in September 2025, alleging that 93% of deposits at its local Bitcoin ATMs were scam-driven, with undisclosed fees up to 26%. Meanwhile, the FBI’s Operation Level Up notified 3,780 potential victims in 2025, preventing an estimated $225.9 million in losses. The program has prevented over $500 million since its 2024 launch. With 30,433 Bitcoin ATMs in the U.S. as of mid-2025—about 80% of the global total—the challenge remains immense.
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