AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. — Airway Heights is weighing a ban on cryptocurrency kiosks within city limits, one year after Spokane enacted a similar prohibition in response to growing scam concerns.
The Airway Heights City Council is holding a first reading of the proposed ordinance Monday evening. A final vote is expected later in July. If the ordinance passes, businesses operating the kiosks will have 60 days to remove them or risk losing their business licenses.
The kiosks, which resemble ATMs and allow users to conduct cryptocurrency transactions, have drawn scrutiny from law enforcement across the region. FBI data shows Washington residents lost approximately $8 million last year in scams tied to the machines.
City Manager Albert Tripp said one of the only kiosks currently operating in Airway Heights — located at the Dino Mart — has not been a hotspot for scams, but said a ban could prevent future problems. When scams do occur, residents can lose their life savings.
“Our goal of the ordinance is to improve public safety,” Tripp said. “We just make sure that individuals don’t lose their hard-earned money through scams or through organized crime associated or that could be connected with these types of devices.”
Spokane banned the kiosks last June. Since then, the Spokane Police Department reports that cryptocurrency scam complaints in the city have dropped to very low levels. Spokane Valley has also enacted a ban.
Because Washington state has not moved to ban the kiosks statewide, Spokane police have encouraged neighboring cities to take action at the local level.
“We’re trying to prevent the same thing from occurring here in Airway Heights to Airway Heights residents,” Tripp said.
Law enforcement officials urge residents to be cautious of online requests for money that carry a sense of urgency, ask the recipient to keep the transaction secret, or come from someone they have never met in person.
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