Australia’s financial watchdog is preparing to take sweeping new powers aimed at curbing the misuse of cryptocurrency ATMs, following mounting evidence that the machines are being exploited in scams and money-laundering operations.
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), the country’s financial intelligence agency, is expected to gain authority to restrict or outlaw entire categories of crypto-related services. That shift marks a major departure from current policy, which limits enforcement to specific operators.
Brendan Thomas, AUSTRAC’s chief executive, said the additional powers would make it easier to react quickly as new risks emerge. “We’re seeing misuse on a scale that demands stronger action,” he said. “This framework would let us act before the harm spreads.”
Scams Account for Majority of Crypto ATM Use
According to AUSTRAC data, crypto ATMs are processing about 150,000 transactions annually, worth roughly $275 million. But behind those numbers lies a troubling trend: around 85% of high-volume transactions have been linked to scams or so-called money mule activity—cases where individuals are recruited to move illicit funds.
Authorities are particularly worried about older Australians falling prey to such schemes. Nearly three-quarters of the total value flowing through these machines comes from users between 50 and 70 years old, a demographic considered especially vulnerable to sophisticated online frauds.
Rapid Growth, Rising Risk
Once a niche novelty, crypto ATMs have exploded across Australia. In just six years, their number has jumped from 23 to about 2,000, making the country the third-largest market globally, trailing only the United States and Canada.
That growth has drawn regulatory attention as officials seek to close off one of the few remaining paths for converting cash into crypto with minimal oversight. The new framework will give AUSTRAC the power to suspend or ban ATM services outright if evidence suggests they pose systemic risks.
Wider Anti-Fraud Push
The government’s latest measures form part of a broader campaign against financial crime. Banks are being granted access to visa and immigration data to help trace networks involved in laundering operations, particularly those using foreign students and temporary visa holders as intermediaries.
Additional controls already introduced include a $5,000 AUD cap on cash deposits, enhanced identity verification, and mandatory scam alerts displayed on ATM screens.
Industry Divided Over the Crackdown
The crypto industry has responded with cautious concern. While many operators support stronger anti–money laundering safeguards, they argue that most legitimate providers already comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) standards, employ surveillance systems, and monitor wallet activity to detect suspicious behavior.
Critics fear that sweeping bans could stifle innovation and block new users from entering the crypto ecosystem. “Removing access points like ATMs doesn’t eliminate risk—it just drives users toward less regulated channels,” one operator said.
Impact on Retail Adoption
Analysts warn that the new approach could reshape how Australians interact with crypto. ATMs have long provided a simple bridge for newcomers, allowing cash purchases without the complexity of centralized exchanges. Limiting their availability could slow adoption among retail users, especially those less comfortable with online trading tools.
Still, regulators insist the benefits outweigh the trade-offs. With scams and laundering on the rise, the government believes a firmer stance on cash-to-crypto conversions is necessary to preserve trust in the nation’s digital asset ecosystem.
If approved, AUSTRAC’s enhanced powers would mark the country’s most significant crypto regulatory reform since 2020—one that shifts the spotlight firmly from exchanges to the streets where cash meets crypto.
