NC woman lost all her savings at a gas-station bitcoin machine. A new law could force refunds — but not until January

A North Carolina woman lost her savings after sending money through a gas-station Bitcoin ATM, highlighting the risk of crypto kiosk scams and limited recourse for victims. A new state law is intended to strengthen consumer protections and may require refunds in some cases, but it does not take effect until January. The delay leaves customers exposed in the meantime and underscores how regulation, rather than Bitcoin’s protocol, shapes protections around buying crypto through intermediaries.