Bitcoin ATM Refund Laws by State (2026)

Money put into a Bitcoin or crypto ATM usually can’t be taken back once the crypto is sent. But a growing number of states now require crypto kiosk operators to refund fraud victims, sometimes in full, if they report quickly. This page lists the state laws we have checked against the statute text, what each requires, and how to make a claim.

Can you get money back from a Bitcoin ATM?

Sometimes. It depends on your state, how long you’ve used that operator, and how fast you report. Most laws require you to contact both the kiosk operator and a law enforcement or government agency within a deadline, and some require a police report or sworn statement. If your state isn’t listed, still call the operator immediately: some operators have their own refund policies.

States that require refunds (in force now)

Each law has its own deadline, and some are only a few days, so open your state’s law below and check the current rules the same day.

Iowa (Iowa Code 533C.1004): new and existing customers can get a full refund of fraudulent transactions if they contact the operator and a government or law enforcement agency and give the operator proof such as a police report or sworn declaration.
Wisconsin (Wis. Stat. 217.12, 2025 Act 226): any customer can get a full refund of a fraudulent transaction, including fees, if they contact the operator and the Department of Justice, the Department of Financial Institutions or a law enforcement agency.
South Dakota (SB 98): any fraud victim can get a full refund, including all charges. Tell the operator about every fraudulent transaction, then give it a police or government agency report or a sworn statement.
Kansas (HB 2591): a full refund, including fees, of a customer’s first transaction and transactions shortly after it; existing customers get their fees back. Report it to the state bank commissioner, the Attorney General or law enforcement, and give the operator a police report or sworn declaration. A first transaction can also be cancelled for any reason during its holding period.
Oklahoma (6 O.S. § 1520.1): new customers get a full refund of fraudulent transactions, including fees; existing customers get fees and charges back. Report it to the operator and the Oklahoma Attorney General.
Maine (32 M.R.S. 6169): a full refund, including charges, of transactions made in a customer’s first months with the operator, for fraud or an unfair, deceptive or abusive practice. File a report, including a sworn statement, with a government or law enforcement agency.
Rhode Island (R.I.G.L. 19-14.3-3.11): new customers get the full amount of their early transactions; existing customers get their fees back. Contact the operator and a government or law enforcement agency.
Illinois (205 ILCS 732/45): new customers get the full amount of a limited number of early fraudulent transactions; existing customers get back all charges (fees plus any markup over the market price). Notify the operator and give it a police or government agency report.
Nebraska (Neb. Rev. Stat. 8-3038): new customers get a full refund, including fees; existing customers get their fees back. Notify the operator and a law enforcement or government agency.
Arizona (A.R.S. 6-1236): new customers get a full refund, including fees. Contact the operator and a law enforcement agency or the attorney general, and give the operator their report finding you were defrauded.
Connecticut (C.G.S. 36a-613): new customers can cancel and get a full refund of fraudulent transactions made right after registering. Contact the operator and a government or law enforcement agency, and file a report with that agency.
Colorado (SB 25-079): a full refund of a customer’s first transaction, if it went to a wallet or exchange outside the United States. Contact the operator and a government or law enforcement agency, with proof such as a police report or notarized declaration.
Georgia (HB 945): new customers get the full amount of their first transactions if they contact the operator and a government or law enforcement agency very quickly. Defrauded customers can also get their fees back.
Mississippi (HB 1625): new customers get the full amount of transactions made in their first weeks with the operator if they contact the operator and a government or law enforcement agency, with proof such as a police report or sworn declaration. A new customer’s first transaction is also held and can be cancelled for a full refund during the hold.
Arkansas (Ark. Code 23-55-1008, Act 557 of 2025): brand-new customers can cancel and get a full refund of fraudulent transactions if they contact the operator and a government or law enforcement agency and file a report with that agency.
West Virginia (W. Va. Code 32A-2-8c): new customers can cancel and get a full refund of fraudulent transactions if they contact the operator and a government or law enforcement agency and file a report with that agency.
Maryland (COMAR 09.03.16): any user gets the transaction fee (not the amount sent) refunded for a verified fraudulent transaction. Send the operator a notice of fraud; it may ask for, but can’t require, a police report.
Louisiana (R.S. 6:1389): operators must either hold transactions or let users cancel them for a full refund within a short window. For fraud-based requests, the operator may require proof of a police or government report and ID; a police report or proof of an IC3 complaint counts as showing suspected fraud.

Refund laws taking effect soon

Alaska, from October 1, 2026 (SB 249): any fraud victim gets a full refund, including charges. Tell the operator, then give it a police report or sworn statement.
Alabama, from October 1, 2026 (HB 303): new customers get a full refund, including fees; existing customers get half the transaction value. Contact the operator, law enforcement and the Alabama Securities Commission, and file a report with law enforcement or the Commission.
New Hampshire, from December 16, 2026 (SB 482): any customer who was defrauded gets a full refund of all transactions, including fees, if they quickly contact the operator and a law enforcement or government agency.
Florida, from January 1, 2027 (HB 505): a full refund of a customer’s first transaction, if it is reported to the operator and to law enforcement or a government agency, with proof such as a police report or notarized affidavit.
North Carolina, from January 1, 2027 (H 920): new customers get the full amount deposited and existing customers their fees, if reported to the Commissioner of Banks and found fraudulent.
Kentucky, from April 30, 2027 (SB 189): fraud victims get the kiosk’s fees and markup refunded (not the amount sent) if they report it to the operator and to the Department of Financial Institutions, the Attorney General or law enforcement, with proof such as a police report.
Virginia, from July 1, 2027 (Va. Code 6.2-2254): transaction fees are refunded in fraud cases if the operator is told and receives a police report, government agency report or sworn statement.

States that have banned crypto ATMs

Indiana (since March 2026), Tennessee (from July 1, 2026), Vermont (from July 1, 2026) and Minnesota (from August 1, 2026) have banned crypto kiosks, and Hawaii bans kiosks that take cash in exchange for crypto from October 1, 2026 (HB 1642). If someone sends you to a crypto ATM in one of these states, or across a state line, treat it as a scam.

How to claim a refund

Act the same day if you can. Deadlines vary by state, and some are only a few days.
Call the operator using the phone number on the machine or your receipt, say it was fraud, and ask for a refund under your state’s law. Note the date, time and name of the person you spoke to.
Report it to your local police and to the FBI at ic3.gov, and keep the report numbers. Many state laws require contact with law enforcement or a government agency, and some require the report itself.
Keep everything: receipts, the QR code, the machine location and time, and the scammer’s messages.
If the operator refuses, contact your state attorney general or financial regulator.

Bitcoin ATM refunds: common questions

Is there a time limit to get a refund from a crypto ATM?

Yes, in every state with a refund law, and the deadlines vary a lot: from a few days in some states to much longer in others. Check your state’s law above and report as soon as you realize it was a scam.

Do I need a police report to get my money back?

Often. Arizona requires a report finding you were defrauded, Illinois requires a police or government report, and Iowa, Colorado and Florida ask for proof such as a police report or sworn statement. Some states only require that you contact law enforcement. File a report either way.

I’ve used the ATM company before. Can I still get a refund?

Sometimes. Many laws give the strongest rights to new customers, but Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota cover existing customers too, and several states refund fees to existing customers.

My state isn’t listed. What can I do?

Call the operator anyway and ask about its refund policy, report to the police and IC3, and contact your state attorney general. Laws are changing quickly, and more states have bills pending.

My parent was scammed at a Bitcoin ATM. Can I make the claim for them?

Help them contact the operator and file the reports together. You can file the FBI report on their behalf at ic3.gov. See helping a parent who is being scammed.

Request a case review

This page summarizes state laws as we read them in September 2026. It is not legal advice, may not include every state, and laws change. Check the statute or your state attorney general for current rules. ChainWatch is not a law firm and does not guarantee fund recovery.

Sources

The information on this page was checked against the sources listed on September 29, 2026. Laws, agency guidance, company policies and contact details change, so please verify the current information with the original source before you act.