Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian today applauded members of the Massachusetts State Senate for their move to ban cryptocurrency kiosks. Sheriff Koutoujian testified in support of legislation restricting cryptocurrency kiosks in October of last year, and garnered the support of all 14 Massachusetts Sheriffs to ban the machines statewide.
“I am proud to have collaborated closely over the last several months with AARP Massachusetts, my fellow sheriffs and public safety partners, and legislators like Senator John Cronin to push this ban forward because we need to protect residents now and into the future,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “For far too long, criminals have taken advantage of the unregulated world of cryptocurrency ATMs – or kiosks – to scam people out of their hard-earned savings. We applaud the Massachusetts Senate for supporting a statewide ban on these kiosks to provide much-needed protection to our friends, neighbors and loved ones. We will keep working to see this matter of public policy and public safety become law.”
The language banning the kiosks was included as an amendment on the Senate’s version of the new economic development bill (S3178). The bill is next expected to head to a conference committee to be finalized.
The move to ban the kiosks comes as Massachusetts public safety agencies have repeatedly issued public warnings about the ability of scammers to utilize the machines to defraud unsuspecting residents. The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office has included warnings in news releases, public service announcements and through community-based presentations over the last two years.