Cryptocurrency continues to face pressure in the Mid-Columbia from government officials concerned about its use by criminals to allegedly scam residents.

The Benton County Board of Commissioners voted July 7 to ban all cryptocurrency kiosks in the unincorporated parts of the county following a hearing on the ordinance, county spokeswoman Katie DoValle confirmed to the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.

The ordinance was proposed by the county sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices. A memo to the board said it is intended to “mitigate against the growing threat of fraud these kiosks pose to members of the public.”

The ban goes into effect Aug. 31.

Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Aultman said in a statement the new law “is consistent with what other cities and counties have done around the state.”

Businesses in unincorporated parts of the county that currently have a cryptocurrency kiosk have until 60 days after the ordinance goes into effect to remove them.

Benton County’s ban on the kiosks, which resemble ATMs, follows a similar decision by the Kennewick City Council in May. City police told council members they have investigated nearly 40 cases of scams involving cryptocurrency kiosks since 2023, with total losses estimated at $923,771.

The biggest individual losses involve those over the age of 60, with one victim losing $140,000 in 2025, and a 78-year-old being scammed out of $100,000 this year.

According to law enforcement, scammers convince victims to deposit cash into untraceable cryptocurrency wallets in the kiosks either by impersonating loved ones or others, such as government entities.

Ownership of those wallets and transactions involving them are anonymous, making recovery of funds near impossible. The machines themselves also charge transaction fees between 15% and 25%, increasing victims’ losses.

The companies that own and operate the machines have refused to cooperate in investigations and threatened legal action if machines are seized as evidence, police officials told the council.