Crypto ATMs Are Hurting Ward 2, Sparks, and Nevada - It’s Time to Rethink Them

Bitcoin ATM inside of a convenience store. Photo by Phillip Pessar.

I’ve dabbled in crypto - enough to understand both the appeal and the risks - and I’ve said for a long time that cryptocurrency ATMs don’t make sense for our community. Now Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar is sounding the alarm, warning Nevadans about a growing wave of scams tied directly to these machines. According to his office, fraudsters are using crypto ATMs to pressure victims into making instant, anonymous transfers that can’t be reversed. The scams move fast, the money disappears even faster, and the people targeted are often those least equipped to navigate cryptocurrency at all.

I tried to count and I found approximately 28 of these crypto ATMs in Sparks alone, but I think there are more. They’re found at gas station convenience stores, grocery stores, bars, and other places where you might find a non-affiliated cash-based ATM.

The losses aren’t small. The FTC reported more than $110 million stolen through Bitcoin-ATM scams in 2023. Aguilar’s office is urging Nevadans to slow down, verify anyone claiming to represent law enforcement or financial institutions, and be wary of anyone who pushes them toward a crypto ATM. All of this points to a simple truth: these machines have become a direct pipeline for scammers - not a resource for legitimate crypto users.

The reality is simple. Anyone genuinely interested in investing in or using cryptocurrency can do so safely without ever touching a crypto ATM. These machines offer high fees, low protections, and no meaningful benefit to the public. What they do offer is convenience for scammers - and a recurring source of financial harm for victims across Nevada.

As a candidate for Sparks City Council - Ward 2, I believe we need to take a serious look at removing crypto ATMs from our community. Sparks shouldn’t be a place where financial predators find an easy foothold. Eliminating these machines won’t hinder legitimate crypto users - but it will close off one of the most common tools scammers use to exploit our residents.

Nevadans deserve better safeguards, clearer information, and fewer opportunities for scammers to strike. It’s time to take crypto ATMs out of Ward 2 - out of Sparks - and, ideally, out of Nevada altogether.