The Attorney General for the District of Columbia has sued Bitcoin ATM operator Athena, accusing it of illegally profiting from financial fraud.

BlockBeats News, September 9th. On September 8, 2025, Washington, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwaab filed a lawsuit against Bitcoin ATM operator Athena Bitcoin, Inc., accusing the company of illegally profiting from financial fraud targeting the elderly and vulnerable groups. An investigation revealed that 93% of the deposits in Athena's Bitcoin ATMs in the District were directly linked to fraud, with a median victim age of 71. The company is accused of charging up to a 26% hidden transaction fee (far above the industry standard of 0.24%-3%) and implementing a strict "no refund" policy for fraud victims. The Attorney General's office has demanded that Athena comply with the law, compensate the victims, and face penalties.