Crypto accounted for more than half of IC3’s $20.877 billion in internet-crime losses, while Spokane and Washington, DC stepped up scrutiny of Bitcoin ATMs.
Americans reported more than $11.366 billion in cryptocurrency losses in 2025 across 181,565 complaints, making crypto responsible for more than half of the $20.877 billion in internet-crime losses tracked by the FBI’s IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center). The bureau said its IC3 2025 Annual Report was released on April 6, 2026, marking the first time reported IC3 losses exceeded $20 billion. The largest source of damage was crypto investment fraud, which totaled $7.2 to $7.228 billion across roughly 61,559 complaints, up 25% from 2024. Kiosk-related scams were a smaller but fast-growing segment, with 13,460 complaints tied to crypto ATMs and $389 million in losses, up 58% year over year. Victims age 60 and older accounted for $257.4 million of that total across 6,188 complaints, roughly two-thirds of kiosk losses. The losses have intensified pressure on crypto ATM operators and local authorities. Spokane, Washington, implemented a citywide ban on crypto ATMs in June 2025 after a unanimous vote, and Spokane Valley adopted its own unanimous ban in May 2026. In Washington, DC, Attorney General Brian Schwalb sued Athena Bitcoin Inc. on September 8, 2025, alleging 93% of deposits at the company’s seven local Bitcoin ATMs were linked to scams during its first five months in operation, along with undisclosed fees of up to 26% and refusals to refund victims. The FBI is also expanding prevention efforts. Operation Level Up contacted 3,780 potential victims in 2025 and is credited with preventing an estimated $225.9 million in losses that year, part of more than $500 million stopped since the program began in 2024. The challenge remains large: the U.S. had roughly 30,433 Bitcoin ATMs as of mid-2025, and a CNBC report in January 2026 said about 80% of the world’s bitcoin teller machines were located in the country.