New Zealand’s financial watchdog outlawed crypto ATMs, citing regulatory gaps and AML concerns and raising questions about retail access and compliance.
On July 17, 2025, New Zealand’s government made a defining move in its ongoing battle against financial crime: It announced a nationwide ban on cryptocurrency ATMs.
The decision, spearheaded by Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee, is part of a sweeping reform of the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime.
