Edward Weinhaus, interim founding executive director for the Cryptocurrency Anti-Fraud Education (CAFE) Association, said that the organization aims to assist responsible companies in aligning on shared tools and standards to protect consumers. This statement was made in a press release.
"Every week, we see new stories of families, seniors, and small businesses being targeted by crypto scammers," said Edward "Coach" Weinhaus. "There are companies in this industry who work hard to do the right thing. we are here to provide them the structure, tools, and credibility to translate that commitment to consumers. CAFE was created to help do exactly that."
The CAFE Association has announced it is opening membership to exchanges, kiosk operators, and fintech platforms as part of a nationwide coalition focused on consumer protection and practical operator standards. The announcement identifies interim founding executive director Edward "Coach" Weinhaus. According to the association, this initiative places crypto-related fraud prevention within the broader context of financial fraud trends affecting various payment channels.
Edward "Coach" Weinhaus, Founding Executive Director, CAFE Association
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The Federal Trade Commission reports that consumers lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with investment scams accounting for $5.7 billion. These losses span across the financial ecosystem, including bank transfers, debit and credit cards, and cryptocurrency transactions. The data highlight that fraud is not unique to cryptocurrency but is part of a wider pattern impacting multiple payment methods.
According to Banking Journal reporting, many financial institutions attribute the largest shares of fraud losses to traditional payment methods, led by debit card and check fraud. A 2025 analysis notes that debit card fraud accounted for 39% of losses and check fraud for 30%, with Automated Clearing House (ACH) and credit card fraud also present. These findings demonstrate that fraud pressure is distributed across both legacy and emerging payments.
The CAFE Association’s launch announcement further identifies Edward "Coach" Weinhaus as the interim founding executive director. The release outlines CAFE’s mission and leadership structure, noting Weinhaus's role in initiating standards and education efforts for operators. His position is presented within the context of a broader industry response to the widespread issue of fraud seen across financial channels.
