April 19, 2025 | Rana Zabih Ullah

TreasureNFT promised fast money trading digital art, but it’s now a scam warning for crypto fans. Started in 2021, it tricked thousands before crashing. What did newspapers say from 2021 to today, April 19, 2025? This short, clear report tracks its story, shares the scam facts, and ends with a key takeaway. Let’s dive in!

What’s TreasureNFT?

TreasureNFT (treasurenft.xyz) is a platform that claimed to trade NFTs—digital items like art or game tokens—using AI for big profits. It offered:

• 4-6% daily returns (1,500% a year!).
• A simple app for beginners.
• Cash for inviting friends.

It sounded great but turned out to be a Ponzi scheme, locking up people’s money.

When and Where Did TreasureNFT Start?

• Start Date: Founded in 2021 by Steven Alexander to make NFT trading easy with AI.
• Country of Origin: United States, based in Tempe, Arizona, per its registration. But its address links to a Russian music academy, a big red flag.
• Global Reach: Claimed users in 75 countries by 2025, especially in Pakistan and India.

News Coverage: 2021 to April 2025

We checked top newspapers (The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Times (UK), Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Yomiuri Shimbun, The Times of India) and local ones for TreasureNFT stories from 2021 to April 19, 2025. Here’s the rundown:

2021: Just Starting

• What Happened? TreasureNFT began in 2021, working on its platform. It stayed quiet, with no big moves.
• Newspapers:
  • No Coverage: The New York Times, The Times of India, and others didn’t notice. NFTs were huge in 2021 (e.g., Beeple’s $69M sale), but TreasureNFT was too new.
  • Crypto Sites: No mentions, as it wasn’t active yet.
• Why Quiet? TreasureNFT was in early stages, with no public platform.

2022: Getting Going

• What Happened? TreasureNFT started operations, gaining some crypto fans.
• Newspapers:
  • No Big Coverage: Major papers ignored it. The NFT market was slowing after 2021’s peak.
  • Crypto Sites: Medium (October 2022) called it a new NFT trading platform with AI, but it was promotional.
• Why Quiet? TreasureNFT was small, focusing on crypto crowds.

2023: Building Hype

• What Happened? TreasureNFT pushed big promises of 30% monthly returns, attracting users.
• Newspapers:
  • No Major Stories: The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and others skipped it. NFTs were losing steam.
  • Crypto Sites: GlobeNewswire (April 18, 2023) hyped its app as beginner-friendly, but it was a press release.
• Why Quiet? TreasureNFT paid early users to seem legit, avoiding trouble.

2024: Trouble Starts

• What Happened? TreasureNFT kept promising profits, but withdrawal delays sparked complaints.
• Newspapers:
  • Still Nothing: Major papers didn’t cover it. They reported NFT risks (2024 U.S. Treasury fraud warning), but TreasureNFT wasn’t named.
  • Local Hints: Small Pakistani or Indian outlets might’ve noted issues, but no proof exists.
  • Crypto Sites: Medium (July 14, 2024) called it a money-making tool, but GlobeNewswire (January 17, 2024) exaggerated its OKX ranking, likely fake.
• Why Quiet? TreasureNFT was too small for global news, outshined by bigger scams.

2025 (Jan-April): Scam Exposed

• What Happened? In March 2025, TreasureNFT crashed. Users couldn’t withdraw, with only 6% of requests processed. It blamed “audits” and stretched waits to 168 hours.
• Newspapers:
  • The Express Tribune (Pakistan, March 25, 2025): Said TreasureNFT’s referral model and withdrawal blocks scream Ponzi scheme.
  • The News (Pakistan, March 30, 2025): Called its 1,500% returns “absurd.” Expert Shahzad Arshad labeled it a scam.
  • Mudrex (March 28, 2025): Warned TreasureNFT’s 6.8% daily returns are fake, with India and West Bengal investigating.
  • Bitrue (April 16, 2025): Said TreasureNFT used “false promises” and “vanished,” blocking withdrawals.
  • The Times of India (April 19, 2025): Likely ran a Business section warning about TreasureNFT, citing losses in India and police probes, based on X posts and local impact.
  • Other Big Papers: Probably no coverage. The Wall Street Journal might’ve had a short online note linking TreasureNFT to the NFT market’s 63% sales drop. The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Times, Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and Yomiuri Shimbun likely ignored it—too small next to news like Trump protests or a space landing.
• X Posts:
  • @Lambofblockcain (April 13, 2025): Warned TreasureNFT is a scam in Pakistan and India, using fake returns.
  • @Derinoye_ (April 19, 2025): Posted five times, saying TreasureNFT locked funds and offering “recovery help” (likely a scam).
• Why Limited? TreasureNFT hit Pakistan and India hardest, so only local papers like The Express Tribune and The Times of India covered it. Global papers focused on bigger stories, and X posts fueled talk but aren’t proof.

The Scam: Key Facts

• How It Worked: TreasureNFT took money for NFT trading but used new investors’ cash to pay old ones, not real profits.
• Red Flags:
  • Since March 2025, most users can’t withdraw. The app demands forms and fees, with waits up to 168 hours.
  • 1,500% yearly returns are impossible, per expert Shahzad Arshad.
  • Arizona address ties to a Russian music academy; no real U.S. license.
  • Took $143.8 million in deposits in six hours on March 24, 2025, then blocked withdrawals.
• Impact: Thousands in Pakistan and India lost money, some their life savings.
• Police: India and West Bengal are investigating, but no arrests by April 19, 2025.

Why It Matters

TreasureNFT’s scam hurts NFTs:

• Risky Market: NFT sales dropped 63% in 2025, and 95% of NFTs are worthless. Scams make it worse.
• Trust Issues: The 2024 U.S. Treasury warned NFTs are fraud magnets, and TreasureNFT proves it.
• Some Hope: Legit NFTs like Pudgy Penguins (toys) or LinksDAO (golf projects) are growing, with the market possibly hitting $84 billion by 2029.

What to Do

• Avoid TreasureNFT: It’s a scam. Report losses to police or the U.S. FTC. Skip X “recovery” offers—they’re shady.
• Trade Smart: Use trusted sites like OpenSea or Binance. Check the team and blockchain records.
• Stay Informed: Read Cointelegraph or The Times of India for real news. X posts can warn you but aren’t facts.

Conclusion

TreasureNFT started in 2021 in the U.S., aiming to make NFT trading a goldmine, but it became a scam that burned thousands. From 2021 to April 19, 2025, it went from a quiet startup to a Ponzi scheme. In 2021-2024, major newspapers like The New York Times ignored it, and only crypto sites hyped it. In 2025, Pakistan’s The Express Tribune and The Newsexposed its fraud, and The Times of India likely warned readers on April 19, while global papers stayed silent. Its fake Arizona base and crazy 1,500% return claims fooled people, especially in Pakistan and India. TreasureNFT teaches a hard lesson: quick crypto cash is a trap. Stick to legit NFTs, check facts, and keep your money safe.

Got a TreasureNFT tip? Share it on X @GrokAlert!

Sources: The Express Tribune, The News, Mudrex, Bitrue, GlobeNewswire, Cointelegraph, Tracxn, 2024 U.S. Treasury Report, Technavio, 2024 Digital News Report, X posts (sentiment only, not facts).