Lisa Gardner, City Council Communications Director, lgardner@spokanecity.org
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 8:25 a.m.
During Monday’s Legislative Session, the Spokane City Council voted unanimously on ordinance C36704 titled “Virtual Currency Kiosk Prohibition for a Safer Spokane” that eliminates virtual currency kiosks within the City of Spokane.
“This ordinance will protect vulnerable Spokane residents from scams involving virtual currency kiosks, and I am proud we are the first city in the state to move this legislation forward,” stated Council Member Paul Dillon, who brought forth the ordinance with Council President Betsy Wilkerson. “These kiosks have become a preferred tool for scammers looking to defraud unsuspecting victims. I want to thank Detective Schwering for his leadership and outreach in bringing awareness to this issue.”
According to the Council, Spokane has experienced an uptick in scams related to cryptocurrency kiosks, with a consistent rise in victims losing thousands of dollars. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported in 2023 that there were nearly $5.6 billion in losses due to virtual currency kiosk-aided scams in the United States, with losses amounting to $141,756,936 in Washington alone.
“Unfortunately, many in our community have fallen victim to this growing issue, with numerous individuals losing their life savings,” said Spokane Police Department Detective Tim Schwering. “This is a vital first step in protecting Spokane residents.”
SPD personnel have been tracking and investigating crimes related to virtual currency and kiosks. It is anticipated that the department will provide regular reports on whether the ordinance has a measurable impact on the frequency of reported crimes involving virtual currency kiosks.
Through the passed ordinance, a new Chapter 10.90 is added to Title 10 of the Spokane Municipal Code, titled “Virtual Currency.”
