- State lawmakers introduced a proposal, Senate Bill 98, to curb Scams tied to cryptocurrency kiosks ahead of the 2026 session.
- The measure is bipartisan, sponsored by Senator Steve Kolbeck, Senator Carl Perry, Glen Vilhauer, and others.
- Lawmakers say the bill targets fraud at crypto ATMs while preserving lawful buying, selling, and trading of digital assets.
- State officials reported about $13.8 million in crypto-related scam losses in 2024, according to the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.
- Lawmakers pointed to a recent video in which sponsors described scams that pressure victims to deposit cash into crypto kiosks.
Lawmakers in Pierre introduced a proposal this week aimed at reducing scams tied to cryptocurrency kiosks ahead of the 2026 legislative session. The measure, titled Senate Bill 98, seeks to add safeguards at virtual currency ATMs after officials reported rising losses. Sponsors said the effort focuses on consumer protection, not on preventing lawful crypto transactions.
Senator Steve Kolbeck, a prime sponsor, described the bill as a response to scams where fraudsters pose as government or financial officials and pressure victims to put cash into kiosks. In a video, Kolbeck said, “If you want to buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrency, that is not what it is.” He added concern about bad actors and the need for consumer safeguards, saying, “There are some bad players out there.”
Sponsors listed on the bill include Senator Carl Perry and Glen Vilhauer, among others, and described the effort as bipartisan. The text of Senate Bill 98 is available through the state legislature’s website at Senate Bill 98.
Lawmakers pointed to data showing significant losses tied to crypto scams. The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office reported about $13.8 million in crypto-related scam losses in 2024. Lawmakers emphasized that kiosk transactions are hard to reverse, which makes recovery difficult for victims.
If enacted, the bill would require new protections at virtual currency kiosks, though officials said compliance details will be clarified as the bill moves through the legislative process. Sponsors reiterated that the aim is to reduce fraud without limiting lawful ownership, purchase, sale, or trading of digital assets.
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