Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams is under scrutiny from crypto market participants after a memecoin he promoted, known as NYC Token, experienced a significant liquidity withdrawal shortly after launch. On-chain data showed that a wallet linked to the token’s deployer removed roughly $2.5 million in USDC liquidity near the token’s price peak.
The token was unveiled at a Times Square event and marketed as a crypto initiative tied to civic causes. Its market capitalization briefly surged to about $580 million before falling sharply as liquidity was pulled. Blockchain analytics firms later indicated that only part of the liquidity was returned after prices had already dropped significantly.
The episode has renewed concerns around memecoin launches involving public figures, particularly regarding transparency, token economics, and investor protections. The incident underscores ongoing regulatory and reputational risks in crypto markets, as officials and institutions continue to assess how public endorsements can influence retail trading behavior.
