US Lawmaker Wants Crypto ATMs in Every Federal Building – Is This Real Life?

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Well, here we are, folks. A Texas congressman, Rep. Lance Gooden, has thrown his hat in the ring, proposing a bold, revolutionary idea: cryptocurrency ATMs in every federal building across the land. Yes, you heard that right – crypto ATMs in the halls of power. Like the halls aren’t already full of currency, eh?

On May 1, Gooden penned a letter to Stephen Ehikian, the acting head of the General Services Administration (GSA). This is the agency tasked with managing government properties, in case you didn’t know. In his letter, Gooden made a pitch that these ATMs would serve as an “educational resource” (because who wouldn’t want to learn about crypto at the DMV?) and show the world that the US government is keeping up with the “advances” in financial technology. He asked the GSA to start looking into the guidelines and regulations for putting crypto ATMs in government buildings across the country. But don’t worry – it’s all in line with President Trump’s grand vision, apparently.

Here’s the kicker: Gooden, the man pushing this idea, doesn’t even have any skin in the game. According to financial disclosures, he hasn’t invested in cryptocurrency or any ATM companies since taking office back in 2019. So no, this isn’t a self-serving business venture… unless, of course, he’s planning to buy into the whole thing once it’s up and running. Who knows?

Meanwhile, the GSA website mentions that they might consider providing space for ATMs from federal credit unions. But crypto ATMs? That’s a bit of a grey area. They haven’t made it clear if Ehikian has the power to greenlight digital asset ATMs from private companies like Bitcoin Depot or CoinFlip. CryptoMoon tried to get a comment from Gooden’s office but, surprise, surprise, no reply yet.

As if things weren’t complicated enough, Gooden’s proposal comes at a time when lawmakers in the Senate are considering legislation to curb crypto ATM fraud. Remember that? In February, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to put “common-sense guardrails” in place. Basically, it’s like putting a seatbelt on a rollercoaster that’s already spiraling out of control. Seniors, especially, seem to be getting caught up in crypto ATM scams.

So, Who Decides If This Actually Happens?

And now, the real question: Who gets the final say? Does Ehikian, a Trump appointee, have the power to just start slinging crypto ATMs across federal properties, or will this require Congress to step in and approve funding? Your guess is as good as mine, because, as of now, it’s all very unclear. CryptoMoon reached out to the GSA for comment… but guess what? No reply yet.

Oh, and let’s not forget about Trump himself. He’s got a pretty hefty stake in the crypto world – not just through personal investments, but also via his campaign funds, family businesses, and even his very own memecoin (yes, memecoin). In April, he hosted a dinner in Washington, D.C. for top holders of his memecoin. So, is this just another way to line up some “educational resources” for the masses? You decide.

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2025-05-02 00:39