Crypto kiosks across Indiana are going dark after state lawmakers pushed through a sudden, statewide shutdown and put it into effect immediately.
Gov. Mike Braun signed House Enrolled Act 1116 on Monday, March 9, under an emergency declaration that makes the new rules effective right away, according to the Governor's Office. A related fiscal analysis from the Legislative Services Agency states that HB 1116 "prohibits the operation of virtual currency kiosks in Indiana," allows the attorney general to treat violations as deceptive consumer sales, and confirms the law takes effect "upon passage."
Local law enforcement has already started checking on compliance. In a Facebook post, the Grant County Sheriff's Office reported that deputies visited storefronts and found many machines already turned off or removed. Sheriff Del Garcia warned that criminals have used the kiosks to steal victims' life savings in nearby communities, thanked state lawmakers for backing the measure, and urged anyone who thinks they are being targeted to contact law enforcement immediately.
Why Lawmakers Pushed the Ban
Supporters of the crackdown say the machines became a go-to tool for scammers who pressure victims to feed in cash, convert it to virtual currency, and watch it vanish beyond reach. AARP praised Indiana's move, pointing to FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data tying hundreds of millions of dollars in losses to crypto kiosk schemes last year.
The Legislative Services Agency's fiscal note estimated that about 903 kiosks were operating in Indiana as of January 2026. That sizable footprint, paired with mounting fraud reports, helped spur legislators toward a statewide solution rather than leaving it to a patchwork of local rules.
How the Ban Will Be Enforced and What It Means for Businesses
Under the enrolled bill, the attorney general can bring enforcement actions against kiosk operators and, in some cases, against owners of properties that knowingly allow violations on-site. Courts are authorized to order forfeiture of the machines themselves and any charges collected through them.
The act's emergency declaration means the prohibition took hold as soon as the governor signed it, giving state and local authorities the green light to act immediately. Businesses that hosted kiosks should expect follow-up on compliance and potential civil remedies; LegiScan provides the engrossed bill text outlining those enforcement mechanics.
What Hoosiers Should Do
For everyday Hoosiers, the message is blunt: if someone calls, emails, or messages you and tells you to use a crypto kiosk, do not do it. Instead, contact your bank and local police.
AARP advises reporting suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and turning to trusted family members or community contacts for help if you feel pressured or confused. The Grant County Sheriff's Office has also urged residents to report suspected targeting to local law enforcement so deputies can respond quickly (Grant County Sheriff's Office).
For stores and operators, the new law is unambiguous: kiosks that remain in place and active are now potential enforcement targets, and machines can be seized. Officials have framed the move as a consumer-protection measure aimed squarely at cutting off a fast, convenient conversion point that scammers have used to reach older and more vulnerable Hoosiers.
