Canada proposes ban on crypto ATMs as fraud cases mount

Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Canada proposes ban on crypto ATMs as fraud cases mount Canada's Liberal government calls machines a “primary method” for scams as data and law enforcement link them to rising losses By Sam Reynolds | Edited by Omkar Godbole Apr 29, 2026, 5:14 a.m. Make preferred on What to know : Canada’s Liberal government has proposed a nationwide ban on bitcoin and other crypto ATMs as part of a broader effort to combat fraud and money laundering. Officials say crypto ATMs have become a “primary method” for scammers to defraud victims and for criminals to launder illicit cash, citing findings from the financial intelligence agency FINTRAC. The move comes as lawmakers also weigh banning crypto as a form of electoral donations, even though Canada hosted the world’s first bitcoin ATM in Vancouver in 2013. Canada is proposing to ban crypto ATMs as part of a broader crackdown on fraud and money laundering, citing growing evidence that the machines have become a key tool for scammers. The measure, included in the Liberal government's Spring Economic Update released Tuesday , would eliminate crypto ATMs nationwide. Officials described the machines as a "primary method" for defrauding victims and laundering illicit funds. "To protect Canadians by shutting down a primary method for scammers to defraud victims, and for criminals to place their cash proceeds of crime," the government said, it plans to prohibit the machines entirely. A crypto ATM (automated teller machine) may sound similar to a traditional cash machine that dispenses money from your bank account, but it works very differently. Instead of withdrawing cash, these machines let users convert physical cash into cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, which can then be sent to a digital wallet anywhere in the world, while bypassing traditional banking channels. That’s where the money-laundering risk comes in. The proposal follows mounting concerns from law enforcement and regulators that crypto ATMs have become central to fraud schemes. A 2023 internal analysis by Canada's financial intelligence agency, FINTRAC, found that bitcoin ATMs are likely to remain "the primary method" fraudsters use to collect and launder funds from victims. Canadian l awmakers are debating banning crypto as a payment method for electoral donations, citing concerns about the anonymity of fund transfers. Canada was home to the first bitcoin ATM , installed in a downtown Vancouver coffee shop in 2013. Cryptocurrency More For You XRP falls to $1.38 after breaking below $1.40 on rising selling pressure By Shaurya Malwa 23 minutes ago High-volume move flips support into resistance, leaving price stuck at a key decision level. What to know : XRP has broken below the long-held $1.40 support level on strong selling volume, turning that price area into resistance. The token is now consolidating just under $1.40 after a sharp drop from $1.40 to $1.38, with only shallow rebound attempts so far. Traders are watching $1.40 as the key level... Read full story Latest Crypto News XRP falls to $1.38 after breaking below $1.40 on rising selling pressure 23 minutes ago Bitcoin rises to $77,000 ahead of Fed decision as Trump preps for lengthy Hormuz block 48 minutes ago Institutional money is coming for bitcoin, but Adam Back says it moves slower than you think 1 hour ago Robinhood stock falls 8% after big earnings miss due to weak crypto trading revenue 8 hours ago Paul Tudor Jones calls bitcoin the 'best inflation hedge,' warns of overvalued stocks 9 hours ago CFTC sues Wisconsin in agency's legal campaign defending prediction markets authority 10 hours ago Top Stories 'Crypto Godfather' says bitcoin has not reached its bottom and a new all-time high is off the table for 2026 13 hours ago World Cup fever: Chiliz expands to Solana and Base to supercharge fan token trading 12 hours ago Industry leaders are pouring hundreds of millions into a rescue plan for Aave users after massive crypto hack Apr 27, 2026 CFTC's AI will review U.S. crypto registration applications, chairman tells CoinDesk 16 hours ago Bitmine's ether buys are catching up to Strategy's bitcoin accumulation pace 20 hours ago