Athena Bitcoin agreed to a $4.5 million settlement, but claimants may have less than $3 million to split
Athena Bitcoin’s proposed $4.5 million settlement over TCPA-related telemarketing texts is set for final federal court review on Aug. 10 before Judge Mark E. Walker, who will decide whether to approve the deal, class counsel’s fee request, and a representative award. The case alleges Athena sent multiple promotional texts to people who had texted “STOP” more than 30 days earlier. Athena denies wrongdoing, and the settlement is not an admission or finding of liability. The settlement would cover two classes: U.S. residential subscribers who received qualifying texts from Aug. 20, 2020, to Aug. 20, 2024, and a separate Florida class under the state solicitation law. Both classes share one common fund. Class counsel plans to seek 33% of the fund, about $1.48 million, plus up to $30,000 in costs. Final payouts also depend on notice/admin costs, any representative award, and the number of valid claims. The settlement is still pending final approval.
