The city of Haverhill, Massachusetts, is advancing an ordinance to ban all cryptocurrency ATMs, citing consumer protection concerns. Mayor Melinda E. Barrett proposed the law, which received 11 favorable City Council votes. The ordinance mandates removal of existing machines within 60 days or a daily $300 fine per unit, targeting an area with approximately 415 crypto ATMs according to data from CoinATMRadar.
The mayor of Haverhill has proposed an ordinance to add a new chapter to the city’s legal code. It aims to completely ban cryptocurrency ATMs within the Massachusetts city.
Mayor Melinda E. Barrett argued that “Unregulated Cryptocurrency ATMs pose risks to consumers, including financial fraud, money laundering, and lack of recourse for users.” She stated a lack of federal and state oversight has led to elderly and gullible users losing money.
All existing machines must be shut down and removed within 60 days. Violators will face a fine of $300 per day for each operational machine.
The area has about 415 crypto ATMs according to data from CoinATMRadar. The largest operator, Bitcoin Depot, is notably exposed due to high transaction volumes.
Bitcoin Depot reported a streak of revenue losses since Q3 2025, and its CEO Scott Buchanan stepped down. Former MoneyGram CEO Alex Holmes was appointed as his replacement.
In February 2026, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell sued Bitcoin Depot. The lawsuit alleged scammers used the company’s ATMs to defraud residents.
Other municipalities have taken similar actions. South Hadley, Waltham, and Gloucester have also imposed complete bans on crypto ATMs.
New Hampshire passed bipartisan legislation to protect scam victims. The law allows reimbursement if fraud is reported within 14 days.
A South Hadley incident in October 2025 involved a business owner who rented a crypto ATM. A scammer impersonated him, resulting in a loss of over $11,000 for his employees.
