Washington Residents 50+ Want Stronger Cryptocurrency Kiosk Protections

Washington residents age 50-plus want lawmakers to take action against cryptocurrency kiosk fraud. In AARP’s 2026 survey, 9 in 10 (90%) say it is important for lawmakers to pass laws protecting residents from kiosk-related fraud and scams.

Key Findings:

• 70% support a ban in their local area, while a similar share (68%) support a statewide ban in Washington.
• 66% say they would be more likely to vote for a local or state candidate who advocates for stronger consumer protections against cryptocurrency kiosk fraud.
• 90% say it is important for Washington lawmakers to pass laws protecting residents from cryptocurrency kiosk fraud and scams.
• 91% support posting visible fraud-assistance notices, and 91% support giving paper receipts with relevant transaction information.

Majorities support local and statewide bans on cryptocurrency kiosks

Many respondents support going beyond consumer protections to ban cryptocurrency kiosks altogether. Seven in 10 (70%) support a ban in their local area, while a similar share (68%) support a statewide ban in Washington.

This concern may also shape voting decisions: Two-thirds (66%) say they would be more likely to vote for a local or state candidate who advocates for stronger consumer protections against cryptocurrency kiosk fraud.

Among the specific consumer protection safeguards, 91% support posting visible fraud-assistance notices, and 91% support giving paper receipts with relevant transaction information.

Older Washington residents know about cryptocurrency fraud risks but know less about kiosks and how to respond to scams

The findings reveal a substantial gap between recognizing the risk of cryptocurrency fraud and knowing how to respond when it happens. Seven in 10 (72%) Washington residents age 50-plus have heard of cryptocurrency being used for fraud or scams, but 87% say they know little or nothing at all about the kiosks, including 63% who know nothing at all.

Only 26% say they would be very or somewhat confident about knowing what steps to take if they experienced a cryptocurrency scam or fraud, including whom to contact for help and how to report an incident.

Most older Washington residents are uncertain about cryptocurrency kiosk rules

Among the 368 respondents age 50-plus who know at least something about cryptocurrency kiosks, uncertainty about Washington’s regulations is widespread. Seven in 10 (70%) do not know whether cryptocurrency kiosks in Washington have daily transaction limits, 68% do not know whether the machines can charge fees as high as 42% per transaction, and 61% do not know whether every company operating a cryptocurrency kiosk in Washington must be licensed by the state.

Older Washington residents broadly support cryptocurrency kiosk consumer protections

Support for the consumer protections tested in the survey is consistently high. Ninety-one percent support posting visible notices explaining what to do when fraud is suspected, and 91% support paper receipts with relevant transaction information that could assist a law-enforcement investigation. Eighty-nine percent support a STOP warning about common scam requests.

Respondents also support measures that could help prevent or recover financial losses. Eighty-eight percent support requiring operators to refund transactions proven to be fraudulent, 86% support consumer protections similar to those at other financial institutions, and 83% support daily transaction limits intended to prevent large, single-day losses.

Nine in 10 (90%) agree that consumer safeguards for cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks are about preventing criminal activity rather than restricting innovation. The survey finds support for these protections among Republicans, Independents, and Democrats.

Together, the findings show broad demand among Washington residents age 50-plus for stronger consumer protections against cryptocurrency kiosk fraud while substantial majorities support local or statewide bans on the machines.

Methodology

This poll of 1,019 Washington residents 50 and older was fielded by ANR Market Research Consultants from July 14th through August 1st, 2026, using Aristotle listed telephone sample. Interviews were conducted by landline and cellphone, utilizing live interviewers as well as text-to-web (TTW) data collection modalities. All data are weighted by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, and AARP membership to reflect the Washington 50-plus population.

For more information about the research, contact Joanne Binette, jbinette@aarp.org. For more information about the issue, contact Cathleen MacCaul, cmaccaul@aarp.org.  For media inquiries, contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.