Crypto ATM laws in Illinois: a guide for operators (2026)

Licensing in Illinois

Kiosk operators must register with IDFPR under the Digital Asset Kiosk Act and Digital Assets and Consumer Protection Act (DACPA). As amended by P.A. 104-852 (effective 2026-08-21), operating without DACPA registration is not a violation until 2027-07-01. Money transmitters are licensed under the Uniform Money Transmission Modernization Act (205 ILCS 658, P.A. 103-991, effective 2024-08-09).

Regulator: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) · License: IDFPR registration (by July 2027)

Sources: 205 ILCS 731 (DACPA) full text, sec. 35-15 transition · 205 ILCS 658 Uniform Money Transmission Modernization Act · IDFPR: Gov. Pritzker signs crypto legislation (2025-08-18)

Illinois's kiosk law

Digital Asset Kiosk Act, 205 ILCS 732 (2025) · effective 2025-08-18. Daily limits, an 18% cap, fraud refunds, a location list, and registration with IDFPR from 2027.

• New customers: no more than $2,500 a day. Existing customers: no more than $10,500 a day.
• Charges per transaction capped at the greater of $5 or 18% of the digital assets, at market price when the customer starts.
• Full refund, on request, of up to three fraudulent transactions made in the new-customer period, if the customer tells you within 30 days and gives a police or government report within 60 days. Existing customers: refund of all charges on the same 30/60-day terms.
• Give IDFPR a list of your kiosk locations for publication on its website.
• Registration of kiosk operators with IDFPR becomes operative in 2027; IDFPR is still building the process.

Sources: Illinois IDFPR: digital assets · IDFPR notice to digital asset businesses (Nov 10, 2025) · 205 ILCS 732/25 (daily limits) · 205 ILCS 732/30 (charges) · 205 ILCS 732/45 (refunds)

Also in the law, and recent changes

• Under DACPA's transition section, a covered person engaging in digital asset business activity without registration is not in violation until 2027-07-01 (IDFPR's 2025 release also says businesses have until 2027-07-01 to register).
• Kiosk location list: give IDFPR the physical addresses of all your Illinois kiosks and update within 30 days of changes; IDFPR publishes the list and your contact details.

Sources: 205 ILCS 731 full text · 205 ILCS 732/40

Bills and changes to watch

• P.A. 104-852 (2026, effective 2026-08-21) amended DACPA's transition section (registration deadline 2027-07-01; other duties from 2027-01-01). Enacted.

Enforcement and lawsuits

• IDFPR posted a consumer alert on the Bitcoin Depot bankruptcy and how customers submit claims.

Practical hurdles

• Fraud refunds took effect on signing (2025-08-18), well before registration opens.
• Scam pressure context: FBI IC3 counted 510 crypto-kiosk complaints from this state in 2025 with $20,077,277 in adjusted losses (FBI notes losses may include non-kiosk transactions).

What we couldn't confirm

• Whether the July 1, 2027 DACPA date is the same date kiosk-operator registration under the Digital Asset Kiosk Act becomes operative (the kiosk act defines operators as registrants, but we did not read its own operative-date section).
• What else P.A. 104-852 changed.
• NMLS use for IDFPR registration.