FBI Summarizes Cryptocurrency-Related Losses
Crypto scammers stole over $11.366 billion from Americans, with crypto ATMs causing growing losses.
Americans lost more than $11.3 billion to cryptocurrency-related scams in 2025. This accounted for over half of all losses from internet crimes reported to the FBI.
Fraudulent investments caused the greatest financial damage. Scammers stole more than $7.2 billion through such schemes—25% more than the previous year. They often spent weeks gaining their victims’ trust before persuading them to make further payments.
Crypto ATMs, commonly found at gas stations and retail stores, are also becoming an increasing problem. Losses linked to these machines reached $389 million, rising by 58%. People over the age of 60 were hit the hardest, accounting for around two-thirds of the total amount lost.
Some US cities have begun removing crypto ATMs. Spokane banned them in June 2025, while Spokane Valley introduced a similar ban in May 2026.
Law enforcement agencies have also taken action. The Attorney General for the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against Athena Bitcoin. According to the complaint, fraudulent transactions accounted for 93% of all deposits made through the company’s local machines during their first five months of operation.
The FBI is trying to reach potential victims before they lose their money. Its Operation Level Up program is estimated to have prevented $225.9 million in losses in 2025. However, the scale of the challenge remains enormous. By mid-2025, more than 30,000 crypto ATMs were operating across the United States.
