Council Advances Ban on Cryptocurrency Kiosks

Select Board · Meeting of October 5, 2026

Newburyport City Council advanced a ban on cryptocurrency kiosks and related ATM software. The council voted 8-1 on first reading, with Councilor Zeed dissenting on civil-liberties grounds and Councilor Medina Smith absent; one councilor's vote was not clearly captured in the roll call. Councilor Cameron said police documented $134,000 lost to scams via the city's seven kiosks over four years, mostly among residents over 60.

Salem prosecutor Matthew Palitano told the committee "most of the companies that own these things don't come and get them," leaving disposal costs to the city if kiosks are seized. The council also advanced a ban on water-cooled data centers unanimously, adopted an $847,000 three-year amortization schedule for last winter's snow-and-ice deficit, and approved $83,237 for new one- and three-year police union contracts carrying 1.5 to 2.25 percent raises.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of October 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.