Crypto ATMs were just banned in New Zealand: Here’s why it matters
Why crypto ATMs were targeted by New Zealand regulators
On July 17, 2025, New Zealand’s government made a defining move in its ongoing battle against financial crime: It announced a nationwide ban on cryptocurrency ATMs.
The decision, spearheaded by Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee, is part of a sweeping reform of the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime.
Crypto ATMs, kiosks that allow users to convert cash into digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC), have long existed in a regulatory gray area. According to New Zealand’s Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime, the country had more than 220…
