Athena Bitcoin $4.5M Settlement, Texted STOP to Athena Bitcoin and They Kept Messaging You? Here’s How to Claim Cash Before June 30, 2026

Keon Jackson, a Florida resident, sued Athena Bitcoin, Inc. after allegedly receiving two or more promotional text messages from the crypto ATM company more than 30 days after he texted “stop” — a direct violation of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Athena agreed to pay $4.5 million to resolve the claims without admitting wrongdoing. There are two separate classes covered by this settlement — one for people nationwide (IDNC) and one specifically for Florida residents (FTSA). Both share the same $4.5 million fund, with claims open through June 30, 2026.

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$4,500,000
Claim Deadline	June 30, 2026
Who Qualifies	IDNC: U.S. residential subscribers who texted “stop” to Athena and received 2+ more texts 30+ days later (Aug. 20, 2020 – Aug. 20, 2024) / FTSA: Florida residents with same experience (July 1, 2021 – Aug. 20, 2024)
Payout Per Person	Pro rata — depends on texts received after “stop” and total claims filed
Proof Required	No — provide the phone number that received the texts
Settlement Status	Proposed (awaiting final court approval August 10, 2026)
Case Number	4:24-cv-331-MW/MJF
Court	U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
Administrator	Kroll Settlement Administration
IDNC Official Website	athenabitcointcpalitigation.com
FTSA Official Website	athenabitcointcpalitigation2.com
Phone	(833) 621-8150

Where things stand right now:

• The court has not yet approved the settlement — no cash payments go out until it does and the judgment becomes final.
• The opt-out and objection deadline is May 15, 2026. The claim filing deadline is June 30, 2026.
• The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for August 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.

You Texted “Stop” — That Was Supposed to Be the End of It

Athena Bitcoin operates one of the largest networks of cryptocurrency ATMs in the country. When customers use an Athena machine, they provide their phone number to receive a required verification code. After that transaction, according to the lawsuit, some customers received a stream of promotional texts — flash deals, limited-time crypto offers — that continued even after they replied “stop.”

Federal law under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act prohibits sending telemarketing text messages to people after they have requested that those messages stop. The IDNC class name stands for “Internal Do Not Call” — the list that companies are legally required to maintain and honor when someone opts out. The allegation is that Athena either failed to maintain that list or simply ignored it.

Athena denies it did anything wrong. It claims it did not use prohibited dialing equipment and made a good-faith effort to comply with the law. Both sides agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of a full trial.

Two Different Classes — Which One Are You In?

The $4.5 million fund covers two groups, and it matters which one you belong to because each has its own claim website and slightly different eligibility rules.

IDNC Class (nationwide — file at athenabitcointcpalitigation.com)

You qualify for the IDNC class if you were a residential telephone subscriber in the United States who received more than one promotional text from Athena within any 12-month period, more than 30 days after sending a message consisting solely of the word “STOP,” between August 20, 2020 and August 20, 2024. Business phone numbers are excluded.

FTSA Class (Florida residents only — file at athenabitcointcpalitigation2.com)

You qualify for the FTSA class if you resided in Florida at any time between July 1, 2021 and August 20, 2024, had a telephone number with a Florida area code, sent a text containing only the word “stop” to Athena during that period, and received at least one promotional text from Athena more than 15 days after sending “stop.”

Not sure which class applies to you? Call the Settlement Administrator toll-free at (833) 621-8150.

Related article: $2.9M Settlement Rudeen Management Withheld Security Deposits for Nearly a Decade — Now Former Tenants Get Paid Automatically

What the Payout Actually Looks Like — And Why There’s No Fixed Number Yet

The actual amount paid to each Settlement Class Member who submits a timely and valid Claim Form will not be determined until after the Claims Due Date has passed. The final amount each person receives may be more or less depending on how many Settlement Class Members submit timely, valid claims.

The payment calculation also factors in how many texts you received after sending “stop” — the more unwanted texts you got, the larger your share of the fund. Attorneys’ fees are capped at up to $1,485,000, and the class representative can receive up to $9,000 as a service award. Whatever remains after those deductions and administration costs goes to claimants.

Payments go out by mailed check only. If you change your mailing address after submitting a claim form, it is your responsibility to notify the Settlement Administrator in writing

How to File Your Claim Before June 30, 2026

Step 1 — Go to the right website for your class IDNC (nationwide): athenabitcointcpalitigation.com — click “Submit Claim” FTSA (Florida): athenabitcointcpalitigation2.com

Step 2 — Have your phone number ready All class members must provide the phone number or numbers that received the Athena Bitcoin text messages on their claim form. If you received a notice with a Class Member ID, have that on hand too.

Step 3 — Complete the online form or download the PDF Your Claim Form must be submitted online by June 30, 2026, or mailed to the Class Action Administrator postmarked by June 30, 2026.

Step 4 — Mail to (if submitting by paper): Jackson v. Athena Bitcoin, Inc., c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, PO Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324

Step 5 — Save your confirmation Note your submission date. If your contact information changes before your check arrives, notify Kroll immediately.

Estimated time to complete: 5 minutes.

The Full Timeline — From the First Unwanted Text to Your Check

Milestone	Date
IDNC Class Period Begins	August 20, 2020
FTSA Class Period Begins	July 1, 2021
Class Period Ends (Both Classes)	August 20, 2024
Lawsuit Filed	2024 (Case No. 4:24-cv-331-MW/MJF)
Class Certified by Court	June 18, 2025
Opt-Out Deadline	May 15, 2026
Objection Deadline	May 15, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	June 30, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	August 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Expected Payment Date	TBD — after final approval and any appeals

Questions People Are Actually Asking About This Settlement

I texted STOP once — does that count? 

For the IDNC class, you must have received more than one promotional text from Athena more than 30 days after sending your “stop” message. A single follow-up text does not qualify — it needs to be at least two texts after the opt-out window. Florida FTSA class members only need one subsequent text, but it must arrive more than 15 days after opting out.

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim? 

No. The Court appointed a team of lawyers from The HQ Firm, P.C. to represent the IDNC Settlement Class. They work on your behalf at no cost to you. The claim form itself takes about five minutes online. You only need your own attorney if you want to opt out and pursue a separate lawsuit.

Is this settlement real or a scam? 

This website is authorized by the Court, supervised by counsel for the Parties, and controlled by Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, the Class Action Administrator approved by the Court. The official IDNC site is athenabitcointcpalitigation.com. Always verify by calling (833) 621-8150 directly.

When will I get paid?

 Cash payments will be provided after the Settlement is approved by the Court and becomes final. It may take time for the Settlement to be approved — check the official settlement website for updates. The earliest realistic window is after the August 10, 2026 hearing, assuming no appeals.

What if I do nothing? 

By doing nothing, you remain in the Settlement Class but receive no cash payment — and you still give up your right to sue Athena separately for the same TCPA violations between August 20, 2020 and August 20, 2024. Doing nothing is the worst of both worlds.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes?

 Possibly. TCPA settlement payments are typically treated as taxable income by the IRS. Because payments in this case are characterized as statutory damages rather than wages, you may receive a 1099 form. Speak with a tax professional about your specific situation.

Can I be in both the IDNC and FTSA classes?

 If you are a Florida resident who meets both sets of eligibility criteria, you may qualify for both classes. Both classes share the same $4.5 million fund, and you would need to file separate claims on each class’s website. Contact the Settlement Administrator at (833) 621-8150 if you are unsure how this affects your payout.

What if I missed the opt-out deadline but don’t want to participate?

 The opt-out deadline is May 15, 2026. If that date has passed, you cannot exclude yourself and will be bound by the Settlement — but you can still file a claim for a cash payment through June 30, 2026.

Sources & References

• Official IDNC Settlement Website: athenabitcointcpalitigation.com
• Official FTSA Settlement Website: athenabitcointcpalitigation2.com
• Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), 47 U.S.C. § 227: fcc.gov
• Case Docket: Jackson v. Athena Bitcoin, Inc., Case No. 4:24-cv-331-MW/MJF, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida

Last Updated: April 3, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.