Crypto Dispensers, a Chicago-based Bitcoin ATM operator, is exploring a potential sale valued at around $100 million while its CEO faces federal money laundering charges.
The company said in a Friday announcement that it has hired advisors to evaluate strategic options, including buyer interest and potential partnerships.
The review follows Crypto Dispensers’ decision in 2020 to shift away from physical ATMs and focus on software-based services, a move it said helped address rising fraud cases and compliance risks in the industry.
CEO Firas Isa described the evaluation as a step toward the company’s next phase of growth.
“Hardware showed us the ceiling. Software showed us the scale,” he said.
The company added that it may decide against a sale depending on the results of the review, and that a transaction is not guaranteed.
Federal Charges Add Pressure to Business Review
The announcement came shortly after the US Department of Justice unsealed an indictment accusing Isa and the company of operating a $10 million laundering scheme through its ATM network.
Federal prosecutors allege that between 2018 and 2025, Isa knowingly processed funds tied to wire fraud and narcotics trafficking, converting the proceeds into cryptocurrency while bypassing proper verification checks.
Authorities claim the crypto was then moved to wallets structured to obscure its origin.
Isa and the company have pleaded not guilty to a single conspiracy charge that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
If convicted, the government could seize assets linked to the alleged scheme.
Local Governments Respond With Bans and Restrictions
Regulators across the United States have intensified scrutiny of crypto ATMs, citing a surge in fraud complaints.
The FBI reported nearly 11,000 scam incidents involving crypto kiosks in 2024, leading to more than $246 million in losses.
As cases rise, cities have introduced stronger measures to protect consumers.
Stillwater, Minnesota, banned crypto kiosks after residents lost thousands of dollars in separate scam attempts, including one tied to a fake PayPal overpayment alert.
Spokane, Washington, issued a full citywide ban in June, calling the machines a “preferred tool for scammers.”
Other areas are introducing limits instead of outright bans.
Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, imposed strict transaction caps — despite having no active crypto kiosks — setting a $1,000 daily limit and a $5,000 two-week maximum for any future machines installed in the city.