California Bitcoin ATM Regulations
California limits kiosk transactions to $1,000 per customer per day. Direct and indirect charges are capped at the greater of $5 or 15%. DFPI states that applicable Digital Financial Assets Law licensing requirements began July 1, 2026.
Review and sources
Summary reviewed: . Official source. This is a dated summary; later amendments may change these requirements.
Overview
California limits kiosk transactions to $1,000 per customer per day. Direct and indirect charges are capped at the greater of $5 or 15%. DFPI states that applicable Digital Financial Assets Law licensing requirements began July 1, 2026.
Sources and legislation
This summary covers selected kiosk provisions. Licensing, disclosures, identification, and refund conditions must be read in the full law.
Transaction limits and fees in California
New customers are limited to $1,000/day.
Existing customers are limited to $1,000/day.
Fees are capped at: Greater of $5 or 15%.
Anyone urging you to split a payment across several machines, operators or days to get around a limit is showing a common scam warning sign.
Key dates
- Enacted as: California Financial Code §§ 3902, 3904, 3907.
- We last reviewed this summary against the official source on .
Enforcement actions in California
Actions and findings by California authorities recorded in our operator trust data. Each affects that operator's trust grade.
- 2026-01-13 — California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation: Consent Order involving RockItCoin (resolved). DFPI Consent Order for violations of Digital Financial Assets Law (DFAL) sections 3902, 3904, and 3905: exceeding $1,000 daily transaction limit, charging fees above the 15% cap (~$202,814.22 in aggregate overcharges from Jan-Aug 2025), and incomplete…
- 2025-10-22 — California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation: Consent Order involving Coinhub (resolved). California DFPI Consent Order against LSGT Services, LLC dba Coinhub, signed October 22, 2025 by Logan Short (President & CEO).
- 2025-10-22 — California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation: Regulator finding involving Coinhub (resolved). California DFPI consent-order finding that Coinhub accepted more than $10,000 per day (10x the statutory $1,000 daily limit) from customers over 60 years of age on multiple occasions since January 1, 2024 — referencing FinCEN guidance that elderly consumers…
How California compares
California is one of 18 jurisdictions in our dataset with a kiosk-specific transaction limit, and one of 17 with a fee cap. See every state side by side on the regulations overview.
Rules change at the state line. If you live near a border, the kiosk you use may be governed by a neighbor's law:
Federal rules that apply in California
State law sits on top of federal requirements that apply to every Bitcoin ATM operator in the United States, including in California:
- Money services business registration. Kiosk operators are money transmitters under the Bank Secrecy Act and must register with FinCEN.
- Anti-money-laundering program. Operators must run a written AML program with a compliance officer, training, and independent review.
- Reporting. Operators file Suspicious Activity Reports and Currency Transaction Reports for cash transactions over $10,000 in a day.
- Sanctions screening. Transactions involving sanctioned persons or wallets are prohibited under OFAC rules.
These federal duties explain why kiosks ask for a phone number, ID, or a selfie as amounts rise — identification tiers are how operators meet them.
Bitcoin ATM scam warnings
The biggest risk at a Bitcoin ATM is a scammer directing the payment. The same scripts appear in California as nationwide:
- Government or police impersonation — a caller says you owe a fine or your accounts are frozen and must be "protected" in Bitcoin.
- Tech-support and bank-fraud alerts — a pop-up or call claims your computer or bank account is compromised.
- Romance and investment schemes — an online contact steers you to "invest" or send help through a kiosk.
- Utility shut-off threats — a caller demands immediate payment to keep service on.
No government agency, utility, bank, or legitimate business asks to be paid through a Bitcoin ATM. If someone is on the phone telling you which buttons to press or gives you a QR code to scan, stop. Bitcoin transactions are generally irreversible once confirmed.
Find a Bitcoin ATM in California
Compare locations, operators, trust grades and reported hours in the California Bitcoin ATM directory, or read how Bitcoin ATM fees work before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Are Bitcoin ATMs legal in California?
Yes, Bitcoin ATMs can operate in California. California limits kiosk transactions to $1,000 per customer per day. Direct and indirect charges are capped at the greater of $5 or 15%. DFPI states that applicable Digital Financial Assets Law licensing requirements began July 1, 2026.
What is the Bitcoin ATM daily limit in California?
New customers: $1,000/day. Existing customers: $1,000/day.
Is there a cap on Bitcoin ATM fees in California?
Yes. Fees are capped at: Greater of $5 or 15%.
Have Bitcoin ATM operators faced enforcement in California?
Yes. Our records include 3 actions or findings by California authorities involving RockItCoin and Coinhub. Details and dates are listed on this page.
Where do I report a Bitcoin ATM scam in California?
Contact the operator's support line immediately (the number is on the kiosk and receipt), then file reports with local police, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov), and the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov). You can also contact the California regulator through the official source linked on this page.