Edward Weinhaus, executive director of the Cryptocurrency Anti-Fraud Education Association (CAFE), said that state attorneys general should prioritize targeting scammers rather than compliant crypto kiosks serving the unbanked. This comment was made during a panel discussion, as reported by FedSoc.
"I want to ask a question based on what General Bird talked about, where IOWA is prosecuting cryptocurrency, who've traditionally attempted to serve the unbanked and underbanked," said Edward "Coach" Weinhaus, Founding Executive Director, according to YouTube. "Do the Attorneys General typically target large legitimate businesses when law enforcement can't stop - for example, in this case - the con artists? Is there a risk of overzealous prosecution that may end up harming one of the protected classes, like the underbanked that these companies are serving?"
During a Q&A session at the Federalist Society National Lawyers Convention panel titled "The Role of the Modern State Attorney General," Weinhaus, who previously worked with the California Department of Justice, discussed how state attorneys general have become significant policy influencers through litigation and regulatory enforcement. The panel featured Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, Utah Attorney General Derek Brown, Alaska Attorney General Stephen J. Cox, and former Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring. It was moderated by former U.S. Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey. Drawing from his enforcement experience, Weinhaus questioned how attorneys general should approach crypto kiosks serving underbanked populations while pursuing scammers.
Federal Newswire reported that during the 2025 National Lawyers Convention, Iowa AG Brenna Bird emphasized consumer issues related to "big tech" and announced legal actions against CoinFlip and Bitcoin Depot due to their involvement in schemes defrauding consumers. The report noted that CoinFlip has implemented safeguards like on-screen prompts and 24/7 support to identify potential scams. Bitcoin Depot operates approximately 8,800 kiosk locations across North America.
According to CryptoRepublique, Weinhaus mentioned that some enforcement approaches could result in "sacrificing access to digital assets by the millions," especially for everyday users and those without traditional banking services. In letters addressed to cryptocurrency leaders such as Biber and Paul Grewal, he advocated for a model that combats fraud while maintaining lawful access to crypto products.
Brenna Bird became Iowa's attorney general in November 2022 as the first Republican in this role since 1979. Her previous experience includes six years as a county prosecutor in Fremont County and Guthrie County, where she was elected president of the Iowa County Attorneys Association by her peers. Raised on an Iowa farm, she is an alumna of Drake University and the University of Chicago Law School.
The Cryptocurrency Anti-Fraud Education (CAFE) Association is a nonprofit organization focused on preventing crypto-related fraud through education and resources within an industry-supported framework. CAFE aims to protect consumers from cryptocurrency fraud while promoting collaboration among exchanges and fintech firms to foster transparency and accountability in digital financial systems.