WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – North Carolina has enacted a new law aimed at curbing fraud tied to cryptocurrency ATMs, after state residents lost $13 million to scams through the machines in 2025.

Gov. Josh Stein signed House Bill 920, the Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act, into law following approval by state lawmakers. The machines resemble traditional ATMs but deal in digital or virtual currency and have become a common tool for scammers.

Scammers typically pressure victims into depositing money at crypto ATMs by convincing them they are paying a fine, helping a family member, or resolving a problem with their bank account. Attorney General Jeff Jackson said the scheme often targets elderly residents.

“In the last two years,…