- UK Police raid southwest London, seize seven crypto ATMs, arrest two suspects.
- FCA warns illegal crypto ATMs help criminals launder money and defraud citizens.
- Detective says crypto misuse rising, police determined to protect Londoners daily.
In a major crackdown on illegal crypto activities, UK authorities have seized seven crypto ATMs and arrested two people in southwest London. It was a Thursday raid coordinated by the Metropolitan Police Service and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
London Police Question Two Suspects After Seizing Unregistered ATMs
Officers have searched four premises in southwest London according to the statement of the FCA. In the investigations, they seized seven crypto ATMs. These devices were being utilized to assist crooks wash cash and carry out a non-registered altcoin exchange.
It is illegal to operate crypto ATMs in the UK without an authorization. Crypto companies have been required to be registered with the FCA and adhere to stringent anti-money laundering provisions since January 2021. Nonetheless, currently, there exists no registered crypto ATM in the UK under the law. Consequently, whoever installs or uses it, is most likely violating the law.
Detective Inspector Geoff Donoghue from the Met’s Cryptocurrency Team also shared his thoughts. He stated that those operating illegal crypto ATMs or exchanges should now face dire consequences. According to him, unregistered ATMs are the reason the bad guys find ways to duck their money and commit frauds against honest citizens.
Detective Inspector Geoff Donoghue of the Met Cryptocurrency Team also wrote his comments. He had told us that the police are trying their best to prevent the misuse of cryptocurrencies. He said that with the rise of crypto technology should come the increased defence of Londoners against fraud and financial crime.
Following arrest, the police contacted the two suspects and interviewed them on a cautioned basis. They are now released as the investigation is in process. The names of the suspects are yet to be released to the authorities.
FCA Urges Public to Report Suspicious Crypto ATMs
This is not the first time UK authorities have taken action against illegal crypto activities. In March 2025, the nation witnessed the initial jail term over operating unlicensed crypto ATMs. In that instance, the FCA did an investigation and assisted in the conviction of Olumide Osunkoya who was sentenced to four years in prison over running unlicensed crypto machines.
Unauthorized crypto ATMs are subject to scams. They are being used by criminals to deceive victims to send crypto by posing as police officers, government agents, or even utility companies. These frauds normally focus on elderly individuals and other at-risk populations. Most victims lose so much money before they realize that they have been defrauded.
Due to these dangers, the FCA is asking the population to remain vigilant. They invite individuals to tell on suspicious crypto ATMs they observe. The FCA also alerts all people against using unregistered crypto machines.
Moreover, the FCA has assured to remain in close collaboration with the police and others. They aim at combating financial crime and protecting citizens against fraud. This new raid is an indicator of UK authorities being serious about combating illegal crypto activity.
At this point, the two suspects are still under investigation. In the meantime, the confiscated ATMs will not get back to the streets. The operation conveys a powerful message that the crypto laws in the UK can be broken, resulting in arrests, seizures, and even prison. The FCA and police claim to continually increase their actions to protect the communities as crypto use proliferates.
