Spokane, Washington, has become the first city in the state to ban all cryptocurrency ATMs, including Bitcoin kiosks, following a unanimous city council vote. The decision comes amid a surge in crypto-related scams, with police reports indicating that fraudulent activities have involved sending funds internationally to countries such as China, Russia, and North Korea. Council Member Paul Dillon expressed pride in the legislation, which mandates the removal of crypto machines from convenience stores and gas stations throughout the city. In a related development, New York City officials have dismantled a Facebook-driven crypto scam targeting Russian-speaking residents. Additionally, economist David Rosenberg reported that a 'pump and dump' scheme using his name defrauded victims of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
NEW: 🇺🇸 Spokane, Washington, bans Bitcoin ATMs, ordering operators to remove machines from convenience stores and gas stations citywide due to increased scams. "I am proud we are the first city in the state to move this legislation forward," says Council Member Paul Dillon. https://t.co/YZLMKVr1Dn
Spokane, WA has banned all crypto and virtual currency kiosks, including Bitcoin ATMs, following a unanimous council vote. https://t.co/xX3NR9rrqv
[THE BLOCK] NYC officials bust Facebook-fueled crypto scam targeting Russian-speaking residents