Cash App is the most widely used and acclaimed money transfer service among peers in the digital payments sector of the United States. It allows sending and receiving money to and from family and friends for free. But in the past couple of years, it has been the center of legal controversies due to its popularity. One of the reasons is the lawsuit which resulted in a settlement payment of $12.5 million by Cash App for the allegations of sending unsolicited promotional texts. This issue revolves around user privacy and the prevention of receiving unwanted messages.
Wyoming state consumers are the ones who benefit most from the settlement made in this case as the state has measures that are very unfavorable to electronic communication and spamming. Many people who were not receiving consent for such messages reported getting persistent messages urging them to download or sign up for Cash App.
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Why Was Cash App Sued?
The case, which was registered as Bottoms v. Block, Inc., contended that the “Invite Friends” or referral function of Cash App had inadvertently and indiscriminately sent out promotional text messages to the phone contacts of its users. The messages were crafted in such a way that they seemed like personal invites from a friend, but at the same time, the real intent behind them was nothing but to market Cash App.
Under Washington state law, individuals must give their explicit approval before they can receive commercial or promotional messages. The plaintiffs maintained that Cash App had the advantage of these messages since they resulted in new customers and the app being used more often, whereas the recipients had never asked for marketing messages to be sent to them. This was the basis of the legal suit filed.
Block Inc., the parent firm of App Cash, also stated that there was no illegal conduct. However, the company opted for the settlement route to escape a long and expensive fight. Companies often engage in such settlements as a means of preventing and controlling future risks and damage to their reputation.
Full Details of the Cash App Spam Text Settlement
People suffering the consequences of this settlement will receive a total of $12.5 million as compensation through a fund that has been established. First, however, this fund will make payment for attorneys’ fees, administrative costs, and other legal expenses that have been incurred and approved by the court. The remaining money will then be shared amongst the claimants who are eligible.
Residents of Washington who qualify may be getting about $88 to $147 in their loose change. But it is not a definite amount. If a larger number of valid claims come in, the amount per person could go down. On the other hand, if there are fewer claims, the payment could be at the upper limit.
The settlement is relevant to the sending of promotional text messages during the period of November 14, 2019, to August 7, 2025. Final court approval is anticipated for December 2025.
Who Was Eligible for Payment?
The eligibility criteria for this settlement were very clear and very strict in order to allow only those individuals who were really affected to get compensation. A claimant had to demonstrate that he actually got such text messages and was living in Washington state at that time.
The main eligibility requirements were:
The claimant received a Cash App referral or promotional text message,
They were residing in Washington state at the time the message was received,
They had not previously given explicit consent to receive such marketing messages,
And they submitted a valid claim form before the deadline.
Individuals who simply used Cash App but never received such text messages were not covered by this settlement. Similarly, those who did not file a claim on time are not entitled to payment.
Claim Process and Important Dates
In order to get compensated through this settlement, people had to complete and submit a claim form. The form could be sent via the internet or by post to the administrator of the settlement. Claimants had to fill in their contact details correctly and affirm that the information they gave was true and correct.
In addition, class members were given the right to opt out of the settlement or object to it. Those who opted out could pursue individual legal action in the future, but they would not receive any payment from this settlement.
The important dates were as follows:
October 27, 2025 – Deadline for submitting claims and the deadline for opting out/objecting,
December 2, 2025 – Final court hearing,
After final approval – Payment process begins.
After final approval by the court, this settlement became binding on all individuals who did not opt out.
How will payments be sent?
The Settlement Administrator will issue payments once the final approval is obtained. The payment method shall be the choice of the claimant made during the claim form filling. In most instances, three options were offered – bank account direct deposit, prepaid debit card, and mailing of paper check.
In case of wrong payment information or transaction failure, the payment might be reissued per the settlement terms but through attempts. The recipient’s payment may take time and be conditioned on the method chosen.
What does this settlement mean for consumers?
This Cash App settlement, beaming through, underscores the necessity of maintaining consumer privacy in the digital era. It asserts that even if the messages were only in reference to the company’s products or services, they still could be viewed as legally relevant.The messages were promotional in nature and had been sent without consent.
Hence, this scenario is a red flag for all enterprises employing mobile marketing and user referral methods. Not only the messages that are remitted without the consumers’ consent erode the trust with the consumers but also can raise considerable legal and financial risks. The ruling, in the end, is a very emphatic indication to the consumers, that their privacy is protected by the law and that they can act against the unsolicited text messages being sent to them.
FAQs
Q1. What is the Cash App $12.5M settlement about?
It relates to allegations that Cash App sent unwanted promotional or referral text messages without proper user consent.
Q2. Who was eligible to receive a payment?
Washington state residents who received Cash App promotional texts between November 14, 2019, and August 7, 2025, without consenting.
Q3. How much money could eligible claimants receive?
Approved claimants may receive approximately $88 to $147, depending on the number of valid claims.
Q4. When will settlement payments be sent?
Payments are expected after final court approval, which is scheduled for December 2025.
Q5. How will the settlement payments be delivered?
Payments will be sent via direct deposit, prepaid debit card, or mailed paper check, based on the option chosen during the claim process.






