Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing significant backlash after the crash of his newly launched cryptocurrency, the NYC Token, shortly after its debut on Monday. The token initially soared to a market cap of $580 million but has since fallen sharply to approximately $133 million.

Eric Adams Under Fire

In a promotional video, Adams declared, “We’re about to change the game. This thing is about to take off like crazy.” However, the excitement was short-lived as evidence surfaced suggesting that the steep decline in value resulted from a significant sell-off involving a user connected to the NYC Token’s development team.

Blockchain analysis platform Bubblemaps flagged potentially concerning activity linked to the NYC Token. Notably, a wallet associated with the token’s deployer withdrew around $2.5 million in liquidity when the token peaked. 

Although about $1.5 million was returned after the token’s value dropped by 60%, approximately $900,000 remains unreturned. This has led users on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to accuse Adams of orchestrating a crypto rug pull. 

Adams, who has been an outspoken proponent of cryptocurrency, stated during a Monday event that some of the funds generated by the NYC Token would be directed towards nonprofits focused on combating antisemitism and “anti-Americanism.” Additionally, he expressed intentions to use the proceeds to “teach our children about embracing blockchain technology.”

The NYC Token’s official website states there is a total supply of one billion tokens in circulation, and details reveal that 10 percent of profits are allocated to the team’s activities, though the identities of those involved were not disclosed. 

NYC Token Team Responds 

In response to criticism, the NYC Token team acknowledged the liquidity withdrawal, stating, “Given the overwhelming support and demand for the token at launch, our partners had to rebalance the liquidity.” They added, “We’re in it for the long haul!” 

However, there remains uncertainty about the details surrounding the token’s launch, with a recently listed entity, C18 Digital, associated with the project. Delaware corporation records show that C18 Digital was incorporated on December 30, 2025.

Typically, when a cryptocurrency launches, developers create a liquidity pool using various assets, such as Circle’s USDC or Solana (SOL), to allow users to buy and sell the new token. The NYC Token took a different approach by establishing a one-sided liquidity pool comprised solely of the token itself. 

As users began purchasing the token, they injected liquidity into the pool using USDC, which was followed by the significant withdrawal of $2.5 million. This tactic, described by analyst Vaiman, can be more subtle than direct token sell-offs.

Following the viral reports of the alleged rug pull, a new account associated with the NYC Token announced that additional funds had been injected into the liquidity pool. 

Featured image from CNN, chart from TradingView.com 

Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a new cryptocurrency called “NYC Token” on January 12, 2026, drawing quick attention and equally fast criticism.

According to reports, Adams presented the project in Times Square and framed it as a way to support education and to fight anti-semitism and anti-American sentiment. The token is built on the Solana blockchain, based on information released at the launch.

Token Launch And Purpose

According to the official pitch and subsequent statements, proceeds from the token were to help fund scholarships and blockchain training programs for underserved communities.

Adams described the coin as a civic symbol tied to New York’s identity and global reach. The launch was promoted with promises of community benefits, but critics said the public information about governance and fund handling was thin.

Market Moves

The market reacted in a rush. Based on reports, the token briefly showed an implied market cap of about $580 million–$730 million in the first hours after trading began. Then prices tumbled.

Proud to launch @buynyctoken, a new token built to fight the rapid spread of antisemitism and anti-Americanism across this country and now in New York City.

Now live at https://t.co/zowY9Ri3aK pic.twitter.com/qBMzV88Tmj

— Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) January 12, 2026

Trades showed a fall of roughly 80% as the token’s price dropped from near $0.46 to about $0.10 shortly after markets opened for the asset. Trading volume spiked and then collapsed, leaving many traders facing big losses.

Liquidity And Allegations

On-chain observers and crypto analysts flagged sudden withdrawals of liquidity minutes after the token’s debut. Reports have disclosed that millions of dollars were pulled from trading pools, which prompted accusations of a rug pull from some corners of the crypto community.

The token’s official website was also criticized for missing or nonfunctional links to key documents, and there was little detail about which groups would receive funds or how decisions would be made.

Adams’ Crypto Record: Political Context

Eric Adams is no stranger to digital assets. During his time in office he converted parts of his salary to Bitcoin and Ethereum and pushed policies to attract blockchain firms to the city.

His successor, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, declined to take part in the token project and did not endorse it. That split in approach raised questions about whether a former official should use his public profile to promote a privately issued coin.

Public Response

Analysts called for transparency and urged a closer look at on-chain data. Based on reports from blockchain trackers, some transfers and liquidity extractions were visible publicly on the Solana network, which added to the scrutiny.

Community groups and investors asked for clearer disclosures, while legal experts warned that investigations or regulatory attention could follow if money was moved in ways that harmed ordinary buyers.

Featured image by ThomasShanahan / iStock.com, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin Magazine

Eric Adams’ NYC Token Crashes 80% in Hours, Offering a Stark Lesson in Why Bitcoin Is Different

Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing a lot of heat today after his high-profile launch of a new cryptocurrency, dubbed the NYC Token, crashed within hours of launching. Adams launched the token on Monday, but the coin lost 80% of its value within a couple hours. 

Adams unveiled the Solana-based token at a Times Square event on Monday, promoting it as a tool to generate funding for social causes including the fight against antisemitism and “anti-Americanism,” as well as blockchain education and student scholarships.

Eric Adams told Fox Business that proceeds would support nonprofits like Combat Antisemitism and historically Black colleges and universities without raising taxes.

The announcement came less than two weeks after Eric Adams left office as mayor, where he had long championed crypto adoption — including converting his first mayoral paychecks into Bitcoin and other crypto and signing an executive order to promote digital assets.

A mayoral ‘pump and dump’ from Eric Adams

Investor interest was strong for the first couple of hours following the coin’s launch, briefly driving the NYC Token’s market capitalization into the hundreds of millions of dollars. But within hours of its debut, the token’s price collapsed — dropping more than 80% from its peak, according to market data.

On-chain analysts and traders quickly accused the project of a rug pull, a scenario in which insiders withdraw liquidity from a token to the detriment of ordinary investors. 

The coin hit $580 million in market cap before crashing -80% in a matter of minutes. Nearly $500 million in market cap was lost, as of earlier January 13.

Social media and trading forums erupted with criticism. Many in the crypto space saw this dump coming. 

Some retail traders accused the coin’s pattern as a classic pump-and-dump scheme, while others questioned the token’s sparse disclosures, limited technical details, and the absence of named partners or a working project roadmap.

The case for Bitcoin

Here we go again. This classic moment and rug pull shows the risks inherent in the broader memecoin and altcoin market and makes a strong argument for Bitcoin’s relative stability. 

Projects like this are prone to large liquidity withdrawals, either immediately after a token’s launch or as it reaches new highs. Popularity alone can make it easy to attract buyers, giving insiders an opportunity to sell. When they do, it often triggers sharp price drops and significant investor losses — practices that are manipulative and, frankly, resemble a scam.

Bitcoin, in contrast, offers a longer track record, transparent issuance, and decentralized governance. Its fixed supply and consensus mechanisms are its key to resilience, setting it apart from short-lived tokens with concentrated control or opaque structures.

Eric Adam’s token exemplifies recurring pitfalls we see in speculative, celebrity- or politically branded coins: opaque tokenomics, centralized supply, and sudden collapses that leave retail investors exposed. 

Bitcoin’s architecture is designed to mitigate these risks through decentralized proof-of-work security and a predictable issuance schedule. Bitcoin’s decades‑long resilience has stood the test of any speculative churn coming from memecoins.

Crypto pump-and-dump schemes like this one from Eric Adams really highlight why Bitcoin stands apart from the broader crypto market.

This post Eric Adams’ NYC Token Crashes 80% in Hours, Offering a Stark Lesson in Why Bitcoin Is Different first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

New York City officials announced this week that they would take new steps to address the city’s growing number of unlicensed cannabis retailers in a bid to bolster the rollout of the regulated market for recreational marijuana. At a press conference in Manhattan on Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. said they would also target the landlords of retailers selling weed without a license from the state.

New York’s mayor and leading prosecutor noted that the district attorney’s office had filed complaints against four unlicensed shops selling cannabis in Manhattan. The complaints allege that an NYPD officer had observed the shops selling cannabis to underage individuals and that the city is moving to shut down the shops for making illegal sales of cannabis and operating without a license.

“Legalizing cannabis was a major step forward for equity and justice — but we’re not going to take two steps back by letting illegal smoke shops take over this emerging market,” Adams said in a statement from the mayor’s office. “Today, we are proud to announce we are taking direct action against four unlicensed smoke shops in the Ninth Precinct, which will complement our efforts with District Attorney Bragg to hold these illegal businesses accountable. We are laser-focused on protecting the health and well-being of New Yorkers and ensuring this emerging industry delivers equity to those who deserve it the most.”

Last month, city leaders pledged to take action against the multitude of illicit marijuana retailers that have set up shop in New York City since the state legalized marijuana for adults last year. In December, New York City Mayor Eric Adams launched a pilot interagency task force to address the growing number of unlicensed retailers. The task force, which includes the Sheriff’s Office, the NYPD, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the Office of Cannabis Management, has identified at least 1,200 unlicensed marijuana shops in the city. An analysis by city council staff revealed 11 unlicensed shops selling cannabis within a 10-block radius of the city’s first licensed retailer.

Warnings Sent To 400 Smoke Shops

In addition to the four complaints against unlicensed shops, Adams and Bragg said that the district attorney’s office had sent letters to the more than 400 smoke shops in Manhattan, warning them that the city could initiate eviction proceedings for unlawful cannabis sales. The letter specifically informs commercial entities that the city is prepared to use its authority under New York real estate law “to require owners and landlords to commence eviction proceedings of commercial tenants who are engaged in illegal trade or business, and to take over such eviction proceedings if necessary.” The letter also noted that within five days of written notice that prosecutors would “take over such eviction.”

“For nearly two years, we’ve seen a proliferation of storefronts across Manhattan selling unlicensed, unregulated, and untaxed cannabis products. It’s time for the operation of unlicensed cannabis dispensaries to end,” said Bragg. “Just as we don’t allow endless unlicensed bars and liquor stores to open on every corner, we cannot allow that for cannabis. It’s not safe to sell products that aren’t properly inspected and regulated for dosage, purity, and contaminants. And it certainly isn’t fair to competing businesses.”

Mark Sims, the CEO of cannabis investment firm RIV Capital, said in an email that the proliferation of unlicensed businesses hurts both the newly licensed adult-use cannabis retailers and existing medical marijuana firms including Etain Health, a chain of New York medical marijuana dispensaries operated by RIV, and called for more action from the state.

“While we commend Mayor Adams’ actions to combat the illicit market—it’s a positive step forward—the problem of illicit smoke shops cannot be viewed or solved in isolation,” Sims wrote in an email. “With more than 1,200 illicit shops (which is double the number of Starbucks in New York) suspected to be trafficking in illicit cannabis products, products that have been shown to be unsafe for human health, a more holistic approach must be taken to successfully combat the steady flow of illicit market product.”

The post New York City Officials Pledge Crackdown on Illicit Pot Shops appeared first on High Times.