Illinois Consumers Receive Over $750,000 In Refunds Under Digital Asset Kiosk Act
The state says kiosk operators have granted 453 refund requests since the Digital Asset Kiosks Act took effect in August 2025.
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that digital asset kiosk operators have refunded more than $750,000 to Illinois consumers since the Digital Asset Kiosks Act (DAKA) took effect last year, providing financial relief to consumers who reported being victims of scams or fraud involving digital asset kiosks.
“When we put meaningful protections in place, we expect those protections to make a difference in the lives of Illinoisans,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. “More than $750,000 returned to consumers is a clear indication that the Digital Asset Kiosks Act is doing exactly what it was intended to do. IDFPR will continue its efforts to demonstrate that innovation and consumer protection can, and should, go hand in hand.”
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Since the law was signed in August 2025, kiosk operators have received 453 refund requests from Illinois consumers and have granted refunds to Illinois consumers totaling $750,206.61, with an average of $1,656 per refund. “The growth of digital asset kiosks has given consumers easy access to digital assets, but that access must be accompanied by appropriate safeguards,” said IDFPR Regulatory Innovation Officer Jake Hamilton. “IDFPR will continue working with consumers and regulated businesses to ensure compliance with digital asset law in Illinois and to protect consumers from scams.”
DAKA established new requirements for operators of digital asset kiosks, including reporting of kiosk locations and consumer protections designed to address fraud and scams. Among the law’s key provisions is a requirement that operators provide full refunds to new customers who are victims of scams conducted through digital asset kiosks, subject to the requirements of the law.
While some digital asset kiosks allow users to sell their cryptocurrency in exchange for cash, most customers use kiosks to purchase cryptocurrency with cash and send it to a digital wallet. Scammers exploit the ease of these transactions to direct victims to send funds to wallets controlled by scammers, which can be located anywhere in the world. Victims do not need to already own cryptocurrency to be targeted. Although kiosk operators have implemented safeguards and disclosures intended to prevent scams, scammers often coach victims on how to bypass those protections and send cryptocurrency to wallets they do not control. These tactics underscore the importance of consumer awareness and the refund protections established under DAKA.
“We passed Senate Bill 2319 because Illinoisans have been exploited by scammers sending people to crypto kiosks, draining their savings,” said state Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville). “Illinois has put stronger consumer protections in place, and we’re seeing results: people are getting money back, and operators are being held accountable. We will not let scams go unanswered. Thank you to IDFPR for tracking and reporting refunds and refund requests so we can see the law’s impact and keep fighting for Illinois consumers.”
The law also established a transaction fee cap of 18 percent at digital asset kiosks and limits daily transaction amounts for new customers to $2,500. These provisions are intended to provide additional protection for consumers who may be unfamiliar with digital asset kiosks and the risks associated with digital asset transactions.
“The Digital Asset Kiosks Act was about putting real protections in place for Illinois consumers and giving people a meaningful way to recover their money,” said state Rep. Curtis J. Tarver II (D- Chicago). “The fact that more than 450 consumers have already requested refunds and more than $750,000 has been returned shows why this law was needed. I am proud to have worked with Senator Ellman and IDFPR to strengthen consumer protections in Illinois.”
Consumers who believe they may have been the victim of a scam involving a digital asset kiosk can request a refund by reporting fraud to the operator within 30 days of the transaction and providing a police report to the operator within 60 days of the transaction. IDFPR also encourages consumers to report the matter to the Department by filing a complaint on the IDFPR website.
Consumers can also learn more about digital assets and regulation in Illinois by visiting the IDFPR Digital Assets Webpage. A detailed list of kiosk locations in Illinois and a map of all locations can be found here: Kiosk Operator Location Reporting.
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