Haverhill, Massachusetts, April 1, 2026, 09:13 (EDT)
Officials in Haverhill, Massachusetts, are considering a cryptocurrency ATM ban that could require operators to pull their machines within 60 days or face $300 daily fines. The measure, backed by Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, passed its first hurdle with an 11-0 council vote on March 17. After the mandatory 10-day waiting period, it appeared on the agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting.
This isn’t just a local issue. Crypto kiosks, which accept cash for digital currency, have attracted increasing attention as scams proliferate. The FTC reported that losses linked to bitcoin ATMs soared nearly tenfold between 2020 and 2023, hitting more than $65 million in just the first six months of 2024.
Local concerns are mounting as well. Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker reported last week that his office has returned $20,000 to three victims and seized over $160,000 in blockchain assets since 2024—nearly all of it linked to crypto-ATM kiosk scams. “Our best weapon in the fight against these fraudsters is a well-informed public,” Tucker said. WHAV
Haverhill’s draft ordinance claims that crypto ATMs, if left unregulated, leave people open to fraud, money laundering, and few ways to recover losses, since cash is swapped for virtual currency “instantaneously and irreversibly.” City Solicitor Lisa L. Mead told councilors the proposal aims to shield residents from dangers tied to an unregulated type of money, according to WHAV.
The council unanimously agreed—11-0 during the March 17 meeting—to file the proposal for a 10-day period, marking it as Chapter 192 in the city code. Fast-forward to March 31: the agenda included “Prohibition on Cryptocurrency Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)” for additional consideration. City of Haverhill
Haverhill fits into a wider trend. Indiana just became the first state in the U.S. to outlaw crypto ATMs, according to ATM Marketplace. Minnesota lawmakers are weighing a similar move. In March, Layton City, Utah, put its own local ban in place.
Massachusetts didn’t wait on the sidelines. In February, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell filed a lawsuit against Bitcoin Depot, accusing the company of enabling crypto scams that targeted residents. “Massachusetts consumers deserve to feel safe when they handle their hard-earned money, no matter the technology involved,” Campbell said at the time. Massachusetts Government
A city ban wouldn’t cover everything. WHAV described just a “handful” of current machines inside Haverhill. But according to Cointelegraph—using CoinATMRadar and operator numbers—there may be at least eight in the larger Haverhill area. That points to several nearby kiosks staying beyond the city’s direct control. WHAV
The city’s site listed Tuesday’s agenda, while its minutes archive notes that council minutes get posted only once approved. Should the measure clear the council, operators would have 60 days to comply before facing a daily penalty.
