spam_texts · 6 min read

How to Get Paid for Each Spam Text From a Crypto Exchange

Receiving a spam text from a crypto exchange could entitle you to compensation of $500 per message, and potentially up to $1,500 if the company sent it willfully. This is thanks to a federal law called the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which sets strict rules for how businesses can contact you. As cryptocurrency has become more mainstream, many exchanges have adopted aggressive marketing tactics, including sending unsolicited text messages to attract new traders. If you've received crypto trading alerts, new coin announcements, or promotional offers you never signed up for, you may have a valid legal claim. These unsolicited crypto text messages are not just an annoyance; they can be a violation of your rights, and the law provides a powerful way to fight back and get paid for the intrusion.

What Does Federal Law Say About Crypto Spam Texts?

The primary law governing unsolicited text messages in the United States is the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Congress passed this law to protect consumers from the nuisance of unwanted telemarketing calls and, as technology evolved, text messages. The TCPA applies to all businesses that market to American consumers, including digital-first companies like cryptocurrency exchanges. There is no special exception for the fast-moving world of crypto; if they want to send you marketing texts, they must follow the rules just like any other company. This article is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

The core requirement of the TCPA for marketing messages is obtaining your “prior express written consent.” This means a company cannot simply find your number online or buy a list and start sending you promotional texts. To legally send you marketing messages, they must have clear and convincing proof that you affirmatively agreed to receive them. This consent must be specific to the sender and the type of message. Learning about what counts as consent for marketing texts under the TCPA is crucial for understanding your rights as a consumer in the digital age.

When is a Crypto Text a TCPA Violation?

A text from a crypto exchange becomes a TCPA violation under several common scenarios. The most frequent violation occurs when an exchange sends you a marketing message using an automated system without your prior express written consent. If you have no relationship with the exchange or never provided your number and agreed to receive marketing, that first text is likely illegal. The term “marketing” is broad and includes any message designed to encourage the purchase of a product or service, such as alerts about new coins, promotional trading fees, or sign-up bonuses.

Another clear violation happens when a company continues to text you after you have told them to stop. The TCPA gives you the right to revoke consent at any time, and replying with words like “STOP,” “UNSUBSCRIBE,” or “CANCEL” is a legally recognized way to do so. A company must honor your opt-out request within a reasonable time, which is generally considered to be around 10 business days. Any marketing texts they send you after that period can be a separate, willful violation of the law. You can read more about what happens if you reply STOP to a spam text to understand the full implications.

Finally, the use of an autodialer is a key technical component of a TCPA violation for marketing messages. In practice, almost all modern mass texting platforms used by businesses qualify as autodialers because they can store, process, and dial numbers automatically from a list. The legal battle is rarely about whether the technology was an autodialer; it's almost always about whether the company had your consent to use it to contact you. If they didn't, each of those unsolicited crypto text messages could be a violation.

How Much Money Can You Get for a Spam Text From a Crypto Exchange?

The TCPA provides for powerful statutory damages, which means the law sets specific dollar amounts for violations. For each text message that violates the act, you may be entitled to recover $500. This is a baseline amount that applies to each individual illegal text you receive. So, if a crypto exchange sent you a series of ten unwanted promotional messages, you could be looking at a potential claim for $5,000.

Furthermore, the law allows for damages to be tripled, up to $1,500 per violation, if you can show that the company acted willfully or knowingly. A willful violation can occur if a company ignores your “STOP” request and continues to send you texts, as this demonstrates a conscious disregard for your rights. It can also apply if a company has a history of TCPA violations or engages in a widespread campaign of sending crypto trading alerts spam without checking for consent. These enhanced damages are designed to punish and deter companies that intentionally break the law. You can see how these penalties add up by reviewing real-world cases on the TCPA Settlement Tracker.

It is important to act in a timely manner, as the TCPA has a statute of limitations. Generally, you have four years from the date of the violation to file a lawsuit. This makes it essential to document and save any illegal messages you receive. For a detailed breakdown of potential compensation, our guide on TCPA spam text damages provides additional examples and context. Pursuing an unsolicited SMS lawsuit can be a way to hold these companies accountable.

Real Examples of Illegal Crypto Texts

Sometimes it helps to see what these illegal messages look like in practice. The content can range from generic advertisements to more specific, urgent-sounding alerts. Here are a few realistic examples of texts that could be TCPA violations if you did not consent to receive them.

A common example is an alert about a hot new coin from an exchange you've never heard of:

[Coin Surge Alerts] URGENT: The next big meme coin is about to pump! Get in on the ground floor. Sign up now for 10% off trading fees! a-new-crypto.link/signup

Another type of violation is a "welcome" text sent after you simply browsed a website without creating an account or providing your number for marketing:

[CryptoTrade Pro] Welcome to CryptoTrade Pro! We noticed you checked out our platform. Start trading today and get a $25 bonus. Click here: cryptotrade-pro.io/bonus

Perhaps the most clear-cut violation is when a company ignores your request to opt out:

[BitExchange] Don't miss out on our lowest fees ever! This weekend only. Reply STOP to opt out. ... (You reply STOP) ... (One week later) [BitExchange] Final hours for our fee special! Are you sure you want to miss this? Trade now! bitexchange.com/special

How to Check Your Phone for Violations

If you suspect you've received illegal texts from crypto companies, your phone contains the primary evidence you need. Taking a few minutes to search your message history can uncover multiple violations. Follow these simple steps to find and document potential claims.

• Open your messaging app: Start by going to the SMS or text message application on your smartphone.
• Use the search feature: At the top of your message list, you will find a search bar. Use it to look for keywords related to cryptocurrency. Search for terms like "crypto," "BTC," "ETH," "exchange," "trade," "airdrop," and "coin."
• Search for opt-out attempts: A powerful search is for the word "STOP." This will show you every conversation where you attempted to unsubscribe from a sender's list. Check if any of those senders texted you again after your request.
• Take clear screenshots: For every potentially illegal message you find, take a screenshot. It is critical that the screenshot captures three things: the sender's phone number or short code, the full content of the message, and the date and time it was received.
• Organize your evidence: Keep a simple log noting the sender's name or number and the date of each message. This organized evidence is incredibly helpful when you are ready to have your claim evaluated.

Check Your Phone Right Now

You might be surprised by what you find with a quick search of your text message history. The evidence of illegal spam from crypto exchanges could already be sitting on your phone.

Open your messages and search the word STOP.

Many automated marketing texts, including illegal ones, contain the phrase "Reply STOP to unsubscribe." If you find texts from crypto companies that you never remember signing up for, those initial messages may be TCPA violations. The fact that they offer an opt-out does not excuse sending the first message without your consent. Each one could be worth $500 to $1,500.

Submit screenshots at SpamClaims.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I signed up for an account but don't remember agreeing to texts?

This is a common situation. Under the TCPA, consent for marketing texts must be “clear and conspicuous.” A company cannot legally bury your consent in the middle of a lengthy terms of service document that no one reads. The law requires an affirmative act from you, such as checking a box that clearly states you agree to receive promotional text messages from a specific sender. If you don't remember taking such an action, the company may not have the valid prior express written consent required by law, and their texts could still be illegal.

Are crypto price alerts considered marketing?

It depends on the content. If you specifically signed up to receive purely informational price alerts (e.g., “BTC has reached $70,000”) and the message contains no promotional content, it is likely legal. However, the moment the message includes marketing language, it crosses the line. For example, a text that says “BTC is up 5%! Trade now and get 0% fees!” is an advertisement. Because it encourages you to engage in a commercial transaction, it is considered marketing and requires your prior express written consent.

Does it matter if the crypto exchange is based overseas?

Not necessarily. If a foreign company sends marketing texts to United States phone numbers, they are targeting U.S. consumers and are generally required to comply with U.S. laws like the TCPA. While enforcing a legal judgment against a company with no physical presence or assets in the U.S. can be more complicated, many international exchanges have U.S. based operations, partners, or bank accounts. These connections can make them subject to the jurisdiction of American courts. The violation still occurs on your phone in the U.S., regardless of the sender's location.

How much does it cost to file a TCPA claim?

At SpamClaims.com, our goal is to connect consumers with legal professionals who can help them enforce their rights without upfront costs. The attorneys we work with typically operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any out-of-pocket fees for them to take your case. Their payment comes from a percentage of the money they recover for you, whether through a settlement or a court award. This model allows anyone to pursue a valid claim, regardless of their financial situation. You can see examples of successful outcomes on our TCPA Settlement Tracker.

TLDR

• You may be entitled to $500 for each illegal text message, and up to $1,500 per message if the sender knowingly violated the law.
• Crypto exchanges need your "prior express written consent" before sending you automated marketing texts.
• Continuing to text you after you've replied "STOP" is a separate and often willful violation.
• Save screenshots of all unwanted crypto texts, making sure to capture the sender's number and the date.
• Even if a text seems like a legitimate alert, it can be an illegal ad if it includes marketing language you didn't agree to receive.
• If you've received unsolicited crypto texts, submit your evidence to SpamClaims.com for a free case evaluation.

Submit your spam screenshots for attorney review

This article is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.