In short
- Rep. Lance Goolden (R., Texas) has urged the GSA to install Crypto money machines in federal buildings.
- He described the move as in accordance with Trump’s ambitions for our blockchain leadership.
- But crypto-ATM-related fraud rises in the US, with seniors particularly vulnerable.
While Trump continues to promote crypto and meme coins, a legislator in Texas jumps on the bandwagon with a plan to bring digital currency even closer to everyday Americans by installing crypto money machines in federal buildings.
Rep. Lance Geooden (R., Texas), a Republican that represents the 5th congress district of Texas, wrote on Thursday to the acting manager of the General Services Administration Stephen Ehikian and urged the desk to embrace crypto infrastructure by adding the machines.
The GSA manages government buildings, some of which contain regular vending machines.
In letterCrypto called “an integral part of the global financial system” and proposed to use ATMs in federal buildings to support the financial needs of a “diverse and growing consumer base”.
“By giving access to cryptocurrency money machines in federal buildings, we have the unique opportunity to ensure that our public spaces quickly reflect this evolving trend,” he wrote.
The proposal, he added, fits in with President Donald Trump’s vision of the American dominance in blockchain and crypto innovation.
Honeypot
More crypto money machines may be good news for the organized crime groups that focus on Americans with scams.
Almost 11,000 complaints Were submitted in 2024 with regard to crypto money machines and kiosks, an increase of 99% compared to 2023, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Crime Combiny Center. Losses amounted to $ 246.7 million, with seniors disproportionately affected and lost and lost.
Fraud bound by crypto -money machines includes extortion, technical support, scams from the government, schemes for implementation and fake investment offers, according to the IC3 report.
Scammers usually require goals to use them to transfer money because of the difficulty of funding, the anonymity they offer, to claw and the fact that it does not require contact with someone who may ask themselves why a target about large quantities of money.
Other areas of law have already been set. The UK has forbidden Crypto -money machines downright, while France, AustraliaAnd Germany are clamped on non -registered operators.
In the US, some cities and states also postpone limitations or prohibitions. A city in Minnesota has forbidden the machines, and Nebraska Recently covered reimbursements at 18% and limited daily transactions.
In the meantime, a group of democratic senators pink For a federal crypto -atm fraud prevention law.
The bill contains mandatory fraud alerts, anti-fraud policy registered with Fincen, transaction limits for new users and repayment provisions if fraud is reported within a set period.
Even, Gooden believes that his initiative could bring various benefits.
Although he paid a lip service to some of the risks, noticing that the effort should “require close cooperation with supervisors, industrial experts and technology suppliers to ensure compliance with anti-wue wages and other relevant standards,” he called for the ATMs in bringing “improved accessibility and public education.”
“By embracing this initiative, we can take an important step to realize [Trump’s] Vision and solidification of the status of our nation as a super power in the digital financial landscape, “he wrote.
Published by Sebastian Sinclair
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