On September 1, 2025, Lyoness, the controversial multi-level marketing (MLM) operation led by Hubert Freidl, collapsed, with myWorld and Lyconet websites disabled, per [web:0]. The Lyoness corporate website (lyoness.com) is also offline, signaling a complete operational halt, per [web:0]. myWorld’s Facebook page, last updated August 6, 2025, and Lyconet’s, updated July 25, 2025, with 219 consumer complaints, reflect mounting unrest, per [web:0]. Lyoness oversaw corporate operations, myWorld served as the cashback platform, and Lyconet handled MLM marketing, per [web:0]. This collapse follows $110 million in reported debt in 2023, with myWorld declared insolvent in August 2025 and Lyconet shortly after,
Hubert Freidl, the Austrian founder, has been inactive on social media since September 2024, fueling speculation of his disappearance, per [web:0,2,10]. Lyoness, launched in 2003 as an “accounting units” Ponzi scheme, evolved into a pyramid scheme under myWorld, per [web:0,2,10]. Despite rulings in Norway (2018), Italy (2019, €3.2M fine), Poland (2021), Russia (2021), Liechtenstein (2021), and Austria (2025, Supreme Court) labeling it a pyramid scheme, Austrian authorities have not acted, per [web:0,5,12,16,23]. On July 31, 2025, Spain arrested Lyoness’ Managing Director for defrauding 800+ people of over €5 million, with €52 million in illicit gains since 2011,
myWorld’s insolvency, with €63.9 million in debt and only €4,000 in its account, crushed hopes of restructuring, per [web:4]. Lyconet’s insolvency impacted 43 employees and 565 creditors, with €5.7 million in liabilities, per [web:2,4]. Lyoness Europe AG’s bankruptcy in April 2025 was discontinued due to insufficient assets, per [web:6]. Courts, including Vienna’s Higher Regional Court (June 2024) and Austria’s Supreme Court (January 2025), criticized deceptive practices and recruitment-based earnings, per [web:3,23]. X posts from @CryptoLawyerz highlight investor anger, urging victims to join lawsuits,
The collapse leaves thousands of investors, lured by cashback promises and fake IPO shares, facing losses, per [web:4,7]. Bitcoin (BTC) ($113,234) and Ethereum (ETH) ($4,070) remain unaffected, per CoinMarketCap, but MLM crypto schemes like GSPartners echo Lyoness’s risks, per [16]. Investors should verify platforms via sec.gov or eiopa.europa.eu and avoid MLM traps. Diversify into USDC or ETH with stop-losses below BTC’s $112,000, per TradingView. Follow @TheBlock__ on X for updates. Legal actions, including BE Conflikt Management’s class-action lawsuit, may recover funds by 2026,
