Bitcoin ATM Operator Considers Sale Amid CEO’s Legal Troubles

Crypto Dispensers considers $100M sale amid CEO's legal issues.

American bitcoin ATM operator Crypto Dispensers is contemplating a sale for $100 million. This news follows the indictment of the company’s founder on money laundering charges.

On November 21, the Chicago-based firm issued a press release announcing its search for potential buyers. The decision was made “amid market growth.”

At the time of writing, all announcements on official corporate resources have been removed or are unavailable. Only a post on X remains.

According to The Block, the company’s statement indicated that the move also aims to address “the growing risk of fraud, regulatory pressure, and compliance requirements.”

Days before Crypto Dispensers’ announcement, on November 18, the U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against the company’s CEO, Firas Isa, for allegedly conspiring to launder $10 million.

Prosecutors allege that from 2018 to 2025, the CEO knowingly accepted proceeds from wire fraud and illegal drug trafficking through the firm’s ATM network. Despite KYC requirements, he converted funds into cryptocurrency and transferred them to other wallets to conceal their origin.

Isa and Virtual Assets LLC, the parent company of Crypto Dispensers, have pleaded not guilty. The maximum penalty for the charges is 20 years in prison. 

The first hearing in the case is scheduled for January 2026.

In September, Washington prosecutors suspected the cryptocurrency ATM operator Athena Bitcoin of profiting from scams targeting the elderly and failing to disclose excessive fees.