Crypto ATM operator Crypto Dispensers is considering a $100 million sale after both the company and its founder were charged in an alleged money-laundering scheme. Founder, Firas Isa, and the company have pleaded not guilty.
Crypto Dispensers and Its CEO Indicted in Alleged $10 Million Money-Laundering Conspiracy
Chicago-based Bitcoin ATM operator Crypto Dispensers is considering a sale valued at approximately $100 million, days after federal prosecutors charged the firm and its founder, Firas Isa, in connection with an alleged $10 million money-laundering conspiracy.
In a press release announcing the review, the company stated that it is "evaluating a potential sale at approximately $100 million" and has "retained advisors to support the review as consolidation accelerates across the cash-to-crypto and digital asset infrastructure sector."
On November 18, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it filed an indictment against the company and Isa, alleging that he accepted at least $10 million in criminal proceeds and transferred the money into digital wallets to obscure their origins. Both the company and Isa face one count of money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
In a press release, the U.S Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, stated:
An indictment unsealed in the Northern District of Illinois alleges that criminals and, in some instances, fraud victims, sent at least $10 million in proceeds from wire fraud and narcotics offenses to Crypto Dispensers, Isa, or a co-conspirator. After the proceeds were sent, Isa converted or caused to be converted the cryptocurrency and thereafter transferred the cryptocurrency to virtual wallets to disguise the true source and ownership of the proceeds.
The press release further alleges that Isa knew the funds were derived from fraudulent activity.
Isa and Crypto Dispensers have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and a status hearing in federal court in Chicago is scheduled for January 30, 2026.
The Future of Crypto Dispensers
Founded in 2017, Crypto Dispensers initially deployed hardware-based Bitcoin ATMs in high-traffic retail locations. In 2020, the company shifted its focus to software infrastructure and became the first Bitcoin ATM operator in the U.S. "to secure partnerships with major regulated and publicly traded financial institutions that enable in-store cash deposits at retail registers." The company has since expanded internationally and is preparing to provide cross-border cash-to-crypto access in Latin America through established agreements.
In the press statement, Isa reflected on the company’s evolution and future direction:
From day one our mission was simple. Build a safer and more accessible way for ordinary people to get Bitcoin. Hardware showed us the ceiling. Software showed us the scale. We built the infrastructure, the compliance controls, and the partnerships that allow people to buy Bitcoin with the same payment methods they use in their daily lives. This review is about understanding the next stage of growth and determining which path creates the most value for the platform we have built.
Crypto Dispensers stated that its strategic review is underway, indicating that it may operate independently depending on the outcome. It also emphasized that there is no guarantee that any transaction will result from the process.