The fragmentation you observed makes sense—ATM operators have been under varying state-level pressure for years, and some exploited gaps while others were stricter. What's interesting about Bitcoin Depot's move is the timing and the "every transaction" language; they may be getting ahead of potential federal guidance on transaction size thresholds. The senior scam angle is being used as the regulatory justification, though in my years of following Bitcoin adoption friction points, I've noticed these rules tend to stick around even after their stated purpose shifts. The real question is whether this actually prevents fraud or just creates another compliance layer for legitimate users—and whether other operators will follow suit or use it as competitive differentiation.
The fragmentation you observed makes sense—ATM operators have been under varying state-level pressure for years, and some exploited gaps while others were stricter. What's interesting about Bitcoin Depot's move is the timing and the "every transaction" language; they may be getting ahead of potential federal guidance on transaction size thresholds. The senior scam angle is being used as the regulatory justification, though in my years of following Bitcoin adoption friction points, I've noticed these rules tend to stick around even after their stated purpose shifts. The real question is whether this actually prevents fraud or just creates another compliance layer for legitimate users—and whether other operators will follow suit or use it as competitive differentiation.