Albuquerque’s City Council approved O-26-49, the Virtual Currency Ordinance, prohibiting the installation, operation, hosting and facilitation of publicly accessible virtual currency ATMs and self-service kiosks within city limits. It also covers retail transactions in which a cashier, clerk or intermediary collects payment in person for a virtual currency provider. Existing machines must be removed within 45 days after the ordinance takes effect, although the verified effective date and precise passage date remain unresolved. Property owners, landlords and retailers that allow covered machines to operate may face cumulative daily fines, business-license revocation and injunctive action. The city frames the measure as an anti-fraud measure rather than a ban on cryptocurrency itself. Section 13-22-5 preserves lawful ownership, possession, mining and private transfers through internet-based exchanges and personal wallets. Councilor Stephanie W. Telles said 90% of Albuquerque crypto ATM transactions were tied to fraud, an official claim without published methodology in the announcement. The ordinance was co-sponsored by District 1 Councilor Stephanie W. Telles and District 7 Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, as U.S. jurisdictions continue tightening rules around crypto kiosks.