Will County Legislative Committee: Pushes Forward with Ban on Cryptocurrency Kiosks

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026

Article Summary
The Will County Legislative Committee approved a resolution supporting the drafting and enactment of a county-wide ordinance to ban the placement and operation of cryptocurrency kiosks, citing rampant financial exploitation and fraud targeting senior citizens.

Cryptocurrency Kiosk Ban Key Points:

• Resolution 26-4756 supports a complete ban on cryptocurrency kiosks within Will County boundaries.

• The action follows recent FBI data showing $3.9 billion in crypto losses in 2024, with kiosk fraud being a major driver of irreversible financial scams.

• The resolution directs the State’s Attorney’s Office and regulatory bodies to draft the binding ordinance.

The Will County Legislative Committee on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, unanimously approved a resolution supporting a definitive ban on cryptocurrency kiosks within the county’s jurisdiction to protect residents from escalating financial scams.

Resolution 26-4756 officially supports the enactment of an ordinance “banning the placement, operation, and use of cryptocurrency kiosks within the boundaries of Will County.”

The legislative push follows a detailed presentation during the committee’s April meeting by AARP Illinois representatives, who presented FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) data revealing that cryptocurrency fraud resulted in $3.9 billion in losses in 2024. Law enforcement and consumer protection agencies have increasingly linked the kiosks—often referred to as Bitcoin ATMs—to criminal coercion, where victims, particularly the elderly, are instructed to deposit large sums of cash under false pretenses.

According to the resolution text, the machines allow users to exchange cash for digital assets with “limited consumer safeguards.” Because cryptocurrency transactions are anonymous and non-recoverable, victims of these scams experience irreversible financial losses.

The resolution formally urges the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, relevant county departments, and regulatory bodies to draft and implement the ban consistent with state and federal law. It also encourages continued public education efforts to mitigate crypto-related fraud.

The motion was made by Board Member Daniel J. Butler (R-Frankfort), seconded by Kelly Hickey (D-Naperville), and passed without opposition.