Capitol Crypto: Congressman Proposes Bitcoin ATMs In Government Facilities

A Texas Republican congressman has proposed installing cryptocurrency ATMs in United States federal buildings. Rep. Lance Gooden wrote a May 1 letter to Stephen Ehikian, who is presently acting administrator for the General Services Administration (GSA), news reports said.

Trump Ally Frames Proposal As “Educational Resource”

Gooden, one of the president’s well-known Republican allies, recommended in his letter that installing crypto ATMs in government buildings would be an “educational resource” for the public.

He requested that the GSA start exploring guidelines and regulations necessary for installing such machines on federally owned properties across the country.

Public documents filed with the House of Representatives indicate Gooden has not declared any cryptocurrency investment or ATM firms since being elected in 2019. There are no reported financial disclosures in public records available for the Texas representative as of 2025.

Authority Questions Unanswered

The GSA regulates and manages government-owned properties. Although its website states that it can offer space for federal credit union ATMs, it is not certain if Ehikian can extend these regulations to digital asset ATMs provided by private companies.

Reports suggest Ehikian, who was sworn in by US President Donald Trump, may not have a mandate to introduce these types of ATMs without consent from Congress. Reports also disclose that the finances for such an endeavor may demand an act of Congress.

Meanwhile, Trump has extensive engagement with digital coins and asset firms across multiple avenues. These range from his individual investments, presidential campaign accounts, family-backed enterprises, and the TRUMP meme coin.

Trump reportedly hosted a dinner in Washington, DC in April for the leading holders of his meme coin. This link creates questions regarding potential policy influences regarding cryptocurrency infrastructure in government buildings.

Gooden’s bill comes as legislators in the Senate are considering bills to combat fraud using digital currency ATMs. Last February, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act with the goal of establishing “common sense guardrails” against scams that have hurt many elderly Americans.

The timing provides a telling contrast between Gooden’s initiative to expand access to crypto technology and Durbin’s push for more protection from possible abuse of the same systems.

This brings to the fore the debate surrounding how to achieve a balance between innovation and consumer protection in the world of cryptocurrencies.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView