In 2025 alone, Americans lost more than $330 million to bitcoin ATM scams, according to FBI data, a sharp rise fueled by urgency, impersonation, and technology many consumers barely understand. Bitcoin Depot has refused comment, but under the terms of the settlement avoided any admission of liability. Bitcoin Depot is also facing a separate challenge in Iowa (2), suggesting Maine’s case may not be the last challenge the industry faces. Instead of a bank verifying and recording a transaction, bitcoin relies on a decentralized network of computers to confirm it and permanently log it on a public digital ledger known as the blockchain. Once a bitcoin transaction is sent, it’s final, even if it was triggered by a scam.