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

Licensing in Louisiana

Kiosk owners, operators and anyone who solicits, markets, advertises or facilitates kiosks are subject to the Virtual Currency Businesses Act (VCBA) and need an OFI VCBA license. Act 923 of 2026 (SB 163) repealed the VCBA's July 1, 2027 sunset and provides that the VCBA is preempted from the end of the year in which a federal VC licensing law takes effect.

Regulator: Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), Non-Depository Division · License: Virtual currency (VCBA) license

Sources: OFI: Virtual Currency Business Activity · OFI: 2026 Legislative Summary, Act 923 (SB 163)

Louisiana's kiosk law

La. R.S. 6:1389 (Acts 2025, No. 369) · effective 2025-08-01. $3,000 a day per user and a 72-hour wait or cancellation right.

• Maximum daily transaction limit of $3,000 for each user.
• Either wait 72 hours before processing a user's transaction, or let the user cancel within 72 hours for a full refund at your cost.

Sources: La. R.S. 6:1389 · La. Act 369 (2025) digest

Also in the law, and recent changes

• Act 369 (HB 483) took effect August 1, 2025 (signed June 20, 2025). It also requires kiosk signage, blockchain analytics, a written anti-fraud policy and a written enhanced due diligence policy.
• Act 482 of 2026, SB 287, effective 2026-08-01: if you are not properly licensed at the time of a transaction, the user may cancel at any time for a full refund at your expense.
• Acknowledge and respond to cancellation/refund requests within 10 business days; complete refunds within 90 days of the request (or of receiving disclosed fraud documentation and ID, whichever is later).
• Clearly disclose refund requirements; for suspected fraud you may require a police or agency report and ID, and a police report or IC3 complaint counts as suspected fraud.
• Live telephone support with the toll-free number on the kiosk and the receipt; tell residents they may contact OFI with complaints.
• Kiosk notice must say the transaction may be cancelled within 72 hours (not that it is irreversible); paper and electronic receipt with business address, customer service number, your unique identifier and every fee, direct or indirect.
• Quarterly reports to the Commissioner on all cancellation and refund requests.

Sources: La. Act 369 (2025) resume digest · OFI: 2026 Legislative Summary, Act 482 (SB 287) · La. R.S. 6:1389

Bills and changes to watch

• Act 482 (SB 287), signed 2026-05-29, effective 2026-08-01: kiosk refund, support, receipt and reporting rules (enacted).
• Act 923 (SB 163), 2026: repeals the VCBA sunset; federal-preemption trigger (enacted; became law without the Governor's signature, effective August 1 per OFI).

Enforcement and lawsuits

• 2026-07-06 OFI consumer alert: Bitcoin Depot Operating, LLC (VCBA license 1866902) filed for bankruptcy in the S.D. Texas in May 2026 and ceased operations; Louisiana customers owed funds may file claims.

Practical hurdles

• The 72-hour hold-or-cancel rule applies to every user, not only new ones, so every transaction carries refund risk for three days.
• Operating while not 'properly licensed' exposes every transaction to an open-ended cancel-and-refund right (Act 482).
• Scam pressure context: FBI IC3 counted 144 crypto-kiosk complaints from this state in 2025 with $2,874,450 in adjusted losses (FBI notes losses may include non-kiosk transactions).

What we couldn't confirm

• Whether VCBA licensing goes through NMLS (OFI uses an NMLS contact address, but we did not read a page saying so).
• MTMA: OFI posted a 2026 'LMTA' legislation summary we did not open.