Audit log

Every state-changing event for Athena Bitcoin: moderation decisions on community submissions, plus corrections and updates from the news pipeline. URL-based decisions are designed to carry three independent witnesses — the original source, an Internet Archive snapshot, and a Solana memo signed by our publicly-disclosed publisher key. Archive coverage is still being backfilled, so each decision below reports its own snapshot status rather than assuming one exists.

1. #1publishby system:backfill

   2026-09-15 17:12:42Z
   Score: ? → ? (no score change)
   anchoranchored

   chain

   ●mainnet-betaslot 447,303,954

   sig

   5nCorfLgvVTX…orThjNedcopyexplorer ↗

   hash

   AuegSkstq9hw…q24nauDRcopysha256 → base58

   verifying row…full verify ↗

   canonical bytes (25512 B) ▸

   {"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"bac0a128-1cf5-4846-ad1b-e5b34e9e15c3","kind":"publish","page_slug":"athena-bitcoin","published_at":"2026-09-15T17:12:42.171Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"Athena Bitcoin","sections":[{"content":"Athena Bitcoin, Inc. was founded in 2015 by Eric Gravengaard, who has a background in institutional Bitcoin trading and investment management. The company develops, owns, and operates a global network of Bitcoin ATMs (also called BTMs or Bitcoin Teller Machines) that allow customers to buy or sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash in exchange for cash. As of 2025, Athena operates approximately 3,600–4,100 kiosks across 29 U.S. states and five countries including El Salvador, Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico. The company is publicly traded on OTC markets under the ticker ABIT (Athena Bitcoin Global). Eric Gravengaard also led the development of El Salvador's Chivo Bitcoin wallet system, which distributed Bitcoin wallets to all citizens following the country's adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender. An over-the-counter desk, Athena Crypto Exchange (ACE), serves private and institutional clients. As of early 2025, ABIT stock traded around $0.004–$0.017 per share, having declined approximately 83–84% year-to-date at various points.","heading":"Company Background","severity":"low","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"Athena Bitcoin - The Company (official site)","type":"official","url":"https://athenabitcoin.com/the-company/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Athena Bitcoin Global (ABIT) Stock Price Overview - Stock Analysis","type":"other","url":"https://stockanalysis.com/quote/otc/ABIT/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: ATM Operator Athena Bitcoin Profits From Elderly Scams, Alleges DC Attorney General","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/338513/atm-athena-bitcoin-elderly-alleges-dc-attorney-general"}]},{"content":"On September 8, 2025, Washington, D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb filed a 30-page civil complaint against Athena Bitcoin, Inc. in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Case No. 2025 CAB 005989). The complaint alleges two counts of violating the District's Consumer Protection Procedures Act through deceptive and unfair trade practices, as well as violations of the Abuse, Neglect, and Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults and the Elderly Act.\n\nAccording to the complaint, during Athena's first five months of operation in D.C., the company's own transaction logs showed that 93% of funds deposited into its kiosks were allegedly the product of fraud, and 48% of all deposits were separately flagged to Athena directly by consumers reporting they had been scammed. The complaint further alleges that Athena charged undisclosed transaction fees of up to 26% per transaction without clearly disclosing those fees to consumers at any point in the process; by comparison, the complaint notes that online cryptocurrency exchanges typically charge 0.24% to 3%. One example cited in the complaint alleges a victim was charged as if Bitcoin were trading at approximately $80,300 per coin when the market price was approximately $60,000, resulting in the scammer receiving roughly $7,500 while Athena allegedly retained approximately $2,500 in undisclosed fees. The median age of alleged victims identified in the complaint was 71 years old, and the median loss per transaction was $8,000; one documented victim reportedly lost $98,000 across 19 transactions. The complaint also alleges that Athena maintained a strict no-refunds policy, refusing to return even the fee portions of transactions to fraud victims who reported the scam directly to the company.\n\nThe complaint frames the BTM network as a cash-out mechanism for pig-butchering, romance, and government-impersonation scams targeting older residents. The District sought operational compliance with District law, victim restitution, and financial penalties. Athena denied the allegations, stating through a spokesperson that the company \"employ[s] aggressive safety protocols\" and provides \"robust consumer education,\" including \"five separate verification screens\" to confirm wallet ownership. As of September 2026, no final court ruling on the merits has been issued; the case is pending litigation.","heading":"DC Attorney General Lawsuit (2025)","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DC OAG Press Release: Attorney General Schwalb Sues Crypto ATM Operator for Financially Exploiting District Residents","type":"regulatory","url":"https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-schwalb-sues-crypto-atm-operator"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DC v. Athena Bitcoin — Filed Complaint (PDF, Superior Court of DC, Case No. 2025 CAB 005989)","type":"court_filing","url":"https://oag.dc.gov/sites/default/files/2025-09/2025-09-02-Athena-Complaint-FINAL-.pdf"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Forbes: Washington DC Attorney General Sues Bitcoin ATM Company","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveweisman/2025/11/04/washington-dc-attorney-general-sues-bitcoin-atm-company/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: ATM Operator Athena Bitcoin Profits From Elderly Scams, Alleges DC Attorney General","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/338513/atm-athena-bitcoin-elderly-alleges-dc-attorney-general"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Consumer Affairs: DC Attorney General Sues Bitcoin ATM Operator for Enabling Scams Targeting Seniors","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/dc-attorney-general-sues-bitcoin-atm-operator-for-enabling-scams-targeting-seniors-090825.html"},{"credibility":2,"name":"PYMNTS: Crypto ATMs Branded as Fraud Pipelines in Landmark DC Lawsuit","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2025/crypto-atms-branded-as-fraud-pipelines-in-landmark-dc-lawsuit/"}]},{"content":"In November 2024, DannLaw filed a class action lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey against Athena Bitcoin, Inc., CEO Matias Golenhorn, and the owners of convenience stores hosting Athena kiosks. The lead plaintiff, Karen Carew, a 74-year-old New Jersey resident, alleged that a scammer posing as a Microsoft technical support agent induced her to deposit $39,000 into Athena BTMs, after which the funds were converted to Bitcoin and sent to wallets she did not control. The lawsuit alleges Athena charged $10,060.04 in fees in connection with those transactions and refused to return any of the funds. The complaint asserts four causes of action: possession of stolen property, violations of New Jersey's RICO statute and Consumer Fraud Act, and gross negligence. The lawsuit alleges that Athena was aware of regular fraud reports involving its kiosks but failed to implement adequate safeguards. Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, who is involved in the case, characterized Bitcoin ATMs as \"specifically designed to appeal to criminals.\" The case remains in active litigation; no court has ruled on the merits.","heading":"New Jersey Class Action — Impersonation Scam Facilitation (2024)","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"DannLaw: DannLaw Files Suit Against Athena Bitcoin For Facilitating Impersonation Scams","type":"other","url":"https://dannlaw.com/dannlaw-files-suit-against-athena-bitcoin-for-facilitating-impersonation-scams-former-ohio-ag-says-companys-cryptocurrency-kiosks-are-ar-15s-of-the-financial-services-industry/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Justia: GNADINGER et al v. ATHENA BITCOIN, INC. et al 2:2025cv14063 — US District Court, District of New Jersey","type":"court_filing","url":"https://dockets.justia.com/docket/new-jersey/njdce/2:2025cv14063/580663"}]},{"content":"On November 6, 2025, a proposed consumer class action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Athena Bitcoin. The complaint alleges violations of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act through the use of inflated exchange rates, undisclosed surcharges, and additional processing fees that allegedly reached up to 26% per transaction, far exceeding the 0.24%–3% range the complaint attributes to online alternatives. Plaintiffs also allege deceptive refund policies with strict no-refund terms that were arbitrarily enforced. The suit seeks injunctive relief, restitution, damages, civil penalties, and requirements that Athena implement transparent pricing and adequate refund processes. The lawsuit is a proposed class action and has not been certified; no court ruling on the merits has been issued.","heading":"Florida Federal Class Action — Undisclosed Fees (2025)","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"ABA Banking Journal: Consumer class sues Athena Bitcoin over undisclosed BTM fees","type":"news_article","url":"https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2025/12/consumer-class-sues-athena-bitcoin-over-undisclosed-btm-fees/"}]},{"content":"On August 20, 2026, a class action complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas by Douglas Arnold Schuler, a 62-year-old Houston resident. Schuler alleges that scammers impersonating law enforcement induced him to deposit $26,600 through an Athena Bitcoin kiosk, and that Athena failed to flag or halt the transactions despite multiple alleged red flags: Schuler was a first-time user, made two rapid deposits, exceeded Athena's previously disclosed $9,500 daily limit, and directed funds to different wallet addresses. The complaint alleges that Athena had known since at least 2017 that its kiosks were frequently exploited in scams targeting older adults, and that the company previously employed transaction freezes, customer contact protocols, and daily limits before allegedly abandoning those protections. The lawsuit seeks to represent all Texas residents over age 60 who were scam victims involving Athena ATMs, estimating over 100 class members. Claims include negligence, design defect, civil theft, conversion, unjust enrichment, and consumer protection violations. The case is pending; no ruling on the merits has been issued.","heading":"Texas Federal Class Action — Senior Fraud Safeguards (2026)","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"AboutLawsuits.com: Athena Bitcoin Class Action Lawsuit Says Fraud Safeguards Failed to Protect Scam Victims","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.aboutlawsuits.com/athena-bitcoin-class-action-lawsuit-fraud-safeguards-failed-to-protect-scam-victims/"}]},{"content":"On September 24, 2025, AML Software, an Illinois-registered company, filed a federal copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation lawsuit against Athena Bitcoin, Jordan Mirch, and Taproot Acquisition Enterprises in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. AML Software alleges that Athena engaged in a \"fraudulent scheme\" to obtain AML's proprietary Bitcoin ATM source code without authorization. The complaint alleges that Mirch, described as the \"motivating force\" behind the alleged misappropriation, hired an AML developer as a consultant to wrongfully acquire AML's protected platform and then transferred approximately 2,800–3,000 Bitcoin ATMs powered by AML's technology to Athena through a chain of agreements. AML contends that a $9 million settlement reached in September 2025 between Athena, Taproot, and associated entities — under which Athena announced it was gaining \"immediate ownership of ATMs and source code\" — involved source code that did not legally belong to Taproot or Athena. Athena has not publicly admitted any wrongdoing. The case is pending litigation; no court ruling on the merits has been issued.","heading":"AML Software Copyright Lawsuit — Alleged Source Code Theft (2025)","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: ATM Operator Athena Bitcoin Accused of Stealing Copyrighted Source Code","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/341169/atm-operator-athena-bitcoin-accused-stealing-copyrighted-source-code"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Bloomberg Law: Athena Bitcoin Accused of Stealing ATM Source Code From AML","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/athena-bitcoin-accused-of-stealing-atm-source-code-from-aml"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Law360: AML Software Sues Athena Bitcoin Over Source Code Theft","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.law360.com/articles/2391879/aml-software-sues-athena-bitcoin-over-source-code-theft"}]},{"content":"A separate class action, Jackson v. Athena Bitcoin, Inc. (Case No. 4:24-cv-331), alleged that Athena Bitcoin unlawfully sent promotional text messages to consumers who had previously opted out of receiving such messages, in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and Florida Telephone Solicitation Act. The case covered an estimated 1,833 individuals in the internal Do Not Call class and approximately 639 Florida residents in the state-law class, for messages sent between 2020 and 2024. A $4.5 million settlement received preliminary court approval on March 11, 2026, with a claim deadline of June 30, 2026, and a final approval hearing scheduled for August 10, 2026. This settlement does not involve any finding of liability; the case was resolved without an adjudication on the merits.","heading":"Telemarketing Class Action Settlement (2026)","severity":"low","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"ClassAction.org: $4.5M Athena Bitcoin Settlement Ends Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Telemarketing Texts","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.classaction.org/news/4.5m-athena-bitcoin-settlement-ends-class-action-lawsuit-over-alleged-telemarketing-texts"}]},{"content":"Multiple lawsuits and the DC Attorney General's complaint consistently allege that Athena Bitcoin charged transaction fees of up to 26% per transaction — described variously as an undisclosed \"Transaction Service Margin\" built into the exchange rate — without clearly disclosing these costs to consumers prior to or during a transaction. The DC complaint alleges that this practice is deceptive relative to industry norms, where online exchanges typically charge 0.24%–3%. Consumer advocates and regulators have alleged that Athena's pricing structure makes it difficult for customers, particularly first-time or vulnerable users, to understand the true cost of a transaction. Athena has not publicly acknowledged that its fees are undisclosed and contends that it complies with applicable disclosure requirements. The FBI reported $189 million in U.S. consumer losses involving Bitcoin ATMs in 2023, a figure frequently cited in coverage of the Athena litigation as broader industry context.","heading":"Fee Structure and Consumer Transparency Concerns","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DC OAG Press Release: Attorney General Schwalb Sues Crypto ATM Operator","type":"regulatory","url":"https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-schwalb-sues-crypto-atm-operator"},{"credibility":2,"name":"ComPilot: Crypto ATM Scams and the Athena Bitcoin Lawsuit","type":"research","url":"https://www.compilot.ai/academy/crypto-compliance/crypto-atm-scams-and-the-athena-bitcoin-lawsuit-how-fraud-exploits-the-cash-to-crypto-gap"},{"credibility":2,"name":"WUSA9: DC Attorney General sues Athena Bitcoin for hidden ATM fees and scams","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/legal/athena-bitcoin-atms-scams-older-adults/65-c388deb0-df99-4e28-ba73-9030674d903c"}]},{"content":"Athena Bitcoin has publicly denied the allegations in the DC Attorney General's lawsuit and related litigation, stating it \"strongly disagrees\" with the claims and will defend itself in court. The company states it employs \"aggressive safety protocols\" and provides \"robust consumer education,\" including five separate verification screens at kiosks intended to confirm wallet ownership. Athena is registered with FinCEN as a money services business under the Bank Secrecy Act. Following the September 2025 DC lawsuit, Athena ended its engagement with lobbying firm Government Relations Group LLC in 2026. No federal regulatory enforcement action (e.g., FinCEN, CFPB, FTC) specifically targeting Athena Bitcoin has been publicly identified as of the investigation date. The DC AG case and the multiple civil class actions are the primary active legal proceedings. None of the civil cases have produced an adjudicated finding of liability as of September 2026.","heading":"Company Response and Regulatory Status","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: ATM Operator Athena Bitcoin Profits From Elderly Scams, Alleges DC Attorney General","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/338513/atm-athena-bitcoin-elderly-alleges-dc-attorney-general"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Legis1: Athena Bitcoin Ends Lobbying With Government Relations Group LLC","type":"news_article","url":"https://legis1.com/news/athena-bitcoin-lobbying-ends-engagement-with"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoNews: DC Sues Crypto ATM Firm Athena Bitcoin Over Scam-Linked Deposits","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptonews.com/news/dc-sues-crypto-atm-firm-athena-bitcoin-over-scam-linked-deposits/"}]}],"sources_used":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DC OAG Press Release: Attorney General Schwalb Sues Crypto ATM Operator for Financially Exploiting District Residents","type":"regulatory","url":"https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-schwalb-sues-crypto-atm-operator"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DC v. Athena Bitcoin — Filed Complaint PDF (Superior Court of DC, Case No. 2025 CAB 005989)","type":"court_filing","url":"https://oag.dc.gov/sites/default/files/2025-09/2025-09-02-Athena-Complaint-FINAL-.pdf"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Forbes: Washington DC Attorney General Sues Bitcoin ATM Company","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveweisman/2025/11/04/washington-dc-attorney-general-sues-bitcoin-atm-company/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Bloomberg Law: Athena Bitcoin Accused of Stealing ATM Source Code From AML","type":"news_article","url":"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/athena-bitcoin-accused-of-stealing-atm-source-code-from-aml"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Law360: AML Software Sues Athena Bitcoin Over Source Code Theft","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.law360.com/articles/2391879/aml-software-sues-athena-bitcoin-over-source-code-theft"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Justia: GNADINGER et al v. ATHENA BITCOIN, INC. et al 2:2025cv14063 — US District Court, NJ","type":"court_filing","url":"https://dockets.justia.com/docket/new-jersey/njdce/2:2025cv14063/580663"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: ATM Operator Athena Bitcoin Profits From Elderly Scams, Alleges DC Attorney General","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/338513/atm-athena-bitcoin-elderly-alleges-dc-attorney-general"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: ATM Operator Athena Bitcoin Accused of Stealing Copyrighted Source Code","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/341169/atm-operator-athena-bitcoin-accused-stealing-copyrighted-source-code"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Consumer Affairs: DC Attorney General Sues Bitcoin ATM Operator for Enabling Scams Targeting Seniors","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/dc-attorney-general-sues-bitcoin-atm-operator-for-enabling-scams-targeting-seniors-090825.html"},{"credibility":2,"name":"ABA Banking Journal: Consumer class sues Athena Bitcoin over undisclosed BTM fees","type":"news_article","url":"https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2025/12/consumer-class-sues-athena-bitcoin-over-undisclosed-btm-fees/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"DannLaw: DannLaw Files Suit Against Athena Bitcoin For Facilitating Impersonation Scams","type":"other","url":"https://dannlaw.com/dannlaw-files-suit-against-athena-bitcoin-for-facilitating-impersonation-scams-former-ohio-ag-says-companys-cryptocurrency-kiosks-are-ar-15s-of-the-financial-services-industry/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"AboutLawsuits.com: Athena Bitcoin Class Action Lawsuit Says Fraud Safeguards Failed to Protect Scam Victims","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.aboutlawsuits.com/athena-bitcoin-class-action-lawsuit-fraud-safeguards-failed-to-protect-scam-victims/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"ClassAction.org: $4.5M Athena Bitcoin Settlement Ends Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Telemarketing Texts","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.classaction.org/news/4.5m-athena-bitcoin-settlement-ends-class-action-lawsuit-over-alleged-telemarketing-texts"},{"credibility":2,"name":"PYMNTS: Crypto ATMs Branded as Fraud Pipelines in Landmark DC Lawsuit","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2025/crypto-atms-branded-as-fraud-pipelines-in-landmark-dc-lawsuit/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"WUSA9: DC Attorney General sues Athena Bitcoin for hidden ATM fees and scams","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/legal/athena-bitcoin-atms-scams-older-adults/65-c388deb0-df99-4e28-ba73-9030674d903c"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoNews: DC Sues Crypto ATM Firm Athena Bitcoin Over Scam-Linked Deposits","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptonews.com/news/dc-sues-crypto-atm-firm-athena-bitcoin-over-scam-linked-deposits/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Legis1: Athena Bitcoin Ends Lobbying With Government Relations Group LLC","type":"news_article","url":"https://legis1.com/news/athena-bitcoin-lobbying-ends-engagement-with"},{"credibility":2,"name":"ComPilot: Crypto ATM Scams and the Athena Bitcoin Lawsuit","type":"research","url":"https://www.compilot.ai/academy/crypto-compliance/crypto-atm-scams-and-the-athena-bitcoin-lawsuit-how-fraud-exploits-the-cash-to-crypto-gap"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Athena Bitcoin official site — The Company","type":"official","url":"https://athenabitcoin.com/the-company/"}],"summary":"Athena Bitcoin, Inc. (OTC: ABIT) is one of the largest Bitcoin ATM (BTM) operators in the United States, with approximately 3,600–4,100 kiosks across 29 states and five countries. The company faces multiple active lawsuits, including a September 2025 action by the Washington, D.C. Attorney General alleging that 93% of deposits into its D.C.-area kiosks were tied to fraud and that the company charged undisclosed fees of up to 26% per transaction while refusing refunds to scam victims. Athena disputes the allegations and states it employs robust consumer-protection protocols; as of the investigation date, no court has adjudicated the merits of these claims.","timeline":[{"date":"2015-01-01","event":"Athena Bitcoin founded by Eric Gravengaard to operate a network of Bitcoin ATM kiosks.","source":"Athena Bitcoin official site","source_url":"https://athenabitcoin.com/the-company/"},{"date":"2022-01-01","event":"Athena Bitcoin files S-1 registration statement with the SEC for Athena Bitcoin Global (ABIT), seeking OTC public listing.","source":"SEC EDGAR","source_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1095146/000168316822000848/athena_s1.htm"},{"date":"2024-11-25","event":"DannLaw files class action in Superior Court of New Jersey on behalf of 74-year-old Karen Carew, alleging Athena facilitated impersonation scam losses of $39,000 and charged $10,060 in fees while refusing refunds. CEO Matias Golenhorn named individually.","source":"DannLaw press release","source_url":"https://dannlaw.com/dannlaw-files-suit-against-athena-bitcoin-for-facilitating-impersonation-scams-former-ohio-ag-says-companys-cryptocurrency-kiosks-are-ar-15s-of-the-financial-services-industry/"},{"date":"2025-09-08","event":"Washington, D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb files 30-page civil complaint against Athena Bitcoin in DC Superior Court, alleging 93% of DC kiosk deposits were fraud-linked, fees up to 26% were undisclosed, and median victim age was 71.","source":"DC Office of the Attorney General","source_url":"https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-schwalb-sues-crypto-atm-operator"},{"date":"2025-09-24","event":"AML Software files federal lawsuit against Athena Bitcoin and Jordan Mirch in SDFL alleging copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation of Bitcoin ATM source code through an alleged fraudulent acquisition scheme.","source":"Decrypt","source_url":"https://decrypt.co/341169/atm-operator-athena-bitcoin-accused-stealing-copyrighted-source-code"},{"date":"2025-11-06","event":"Proposed consumer class action filed in SDFL alleging Athena violated Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act through undisclosed fees up to 26% and deceptive refund policies.","source":"ABA Banking Journal","source_url":"https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2025/12/consumer-class-sues-athena-bitcoin-over-undisclosed-btm-fees/"},{"date":"2026-03-11","event":"Preliminary approval granted for $4.5 million settlement in Jackson v. Athena Bitcoin telemarketing class action (Case No. 4:24-cv-331), with final approval hearing scheduled for August 10, 2026. No finding of liability.","source":"ClassAction.org","source_url":"https://www.classaction.org/news/4.5m-athena-bitcoin-settlement-ends-class-action-lawsuit-over-alleged-telemarketing-texts"},{"date":"2026-08-20","event":"Douglas Arnold Schuler files class action in SDTX alleging Athena failed to prevent $26,600 loss to government impersonation scam despite multiple alleged red flags, seeking to represent all Texas residents over 60 victimized through Athena kiosks.","source":"AboutLawsuits.com","source_url":"https://www.aboutlawsuits.com/athena-bitcoin-class-action-lawsuit-fraud-safeguards-failed-to-protect-scam-victims/"}]},"v":1}

   Verify offline (run on your own machine)

   python -m src.verify_decision 10f5ac63-e1c1-485a-ac41-39e0115c4117copy