New Zealand Shuts 220 Crypto ATMs by 2025 as Part of Anti-Money Laundering Overhaul
New Zealand has enacted a nationwide ban on cryptocurrency ATMs effective July 2025, a move announced by Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee as part of its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) reform agenda. The prohibition targets the conversion of fiat currency to digital assets via unregulated kiosks, a practice regulators argue facilitates illicit activities such as drug trafficking and financial fraud. Over 220 crypto ATMs are set to be decommissioned, directly impacting transactions involving major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum [1]. The government emphasized that the policy aims to disrupt criminal networks while minimizing burdens on legitimate businesses, a stance reiterated in statements from McKee: “We will make it…
