The popular YouTube group Nelk Boys is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging they failed to deliver on promises made to investors in their non-fungible token (NFT) project, Metacard. The lawsuit, a complaint filed by Trenton Smith in a California federal court, claims the group misled investors by overpromising perks and benefits associated with the NFT, ultimately leading to significant financial losses.
The complaint alleges that the Nelk Boys, through their crypto company Metacard, minted 10,000 NFTs in January 2022, each priced at $2,300. The NFTs were marketed with promises of exclusive access to events, merchandise discounts, and participation in future projects. However, the lawsuit claims that many of these promised perks were never delivered.
The plaintiffs argue that the Nelk Boys misled investors by portraying the Metacard NFTs as valuable investments with significant potential returns. They claim that the NFTs have since lost much of their value, leaving investors with substantial financial losses. The lawsuit seeks damages, restitution, and disgorgement of profits from the NFT sales.
This lawsuit comes amid a broader trend of legal actions against companies involved in NFT projects. In September 2024, a lawsuit was filed against OpenSea, a popular NFT marketplace, alleging that the platform sold unregistered securities. The NFT market has seen a significant decline in trading and sales volumes in recent years, raising concerns about the sustainability of the industry and the potential for investor losses.
The Nelk Boys have not yet responded to the lawsuit, and it remains to be seen how the case will unfold. However, the lawsuit highlights the risks associated with investing in NFT projects and the importance of conducting thorough due diligence before making any investment decisions.
