Summary
- A new searchable property database from New York City is facing criticism.
- Crypto leaders argue that this tool heightens security threats for affluent property owners.
- Concerns have emerged about increasing violent incidents aimed at cryptocurrency investors.
A newly created searchable database derived from New York City's public property assessment records is drawing significant criticism from notable figures in the cryptocurrency sector. They claim that this tool, which simplifies the search of property data, effectively serves as a directory of wealthy property owners, potentially putting them at risk.
The issue revolves around data released by the New York City Department of Finance, which annually publishes assessed values that are used for property tax calculations across the city. This year’s FY2027 assessment roll, along with supplemental market value information and tax guides, is accessible through the city’s Open Data portal.
Critics on social media platform X have pointed out that the main concern is not the public nature of the records, but rather their aggregation into a searchable format that makes it much easier to identify owners of high-value properties.
Hayden Adams, founder of Uniswap, referred to it as "the worst mass doxxing I've ever seen," noting that the database includes nearly every unit in various luxury apartment buildings, including the primary residences of individuals he knows. He expressed that the initiative has cast an excessively broad net, dubbing it "incredibly dangerous."
“Not only were their units listed, but nearly every unit in the entire building was listed,” Adams stated. “They clearly took an incredibly expansive view of 'could be' and just doxxed a huge percentage of all expensive apartments in New York City.”
The city published a list of all properties -- and the names of the owners -- that *could be* subject to the new pied a terre tax in a very easy to search Excel sheet: https://t.co/d3iAikgERk https://t.co/cRjMmprBob
— Bernadette Hogan (@bern_hogan) July 24, 2026
Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Helius, described the database as “unsettling,” arguing that it crosses a boundary by consolidating scattered public records into a centralized tool that effectively highlights wealthy individuals.
“While this data was largely public prior, it was in a disorganized manner. Now, they have cleaned it, organized it, singled out 'the rich,' and mass distributed it, marking another instance this year of privacy becoming increasingly scarce,” he wrote.
Nic Carter, a partner at Castle Island Ventures, cautioned that an easily searchable database of wealthy property owners could simplify the process for would-be criminals to identify their targets, referencing recent kidnappings and violent incidents related to cryptocurrency in Europe.
“So this is a list of wealthy people and their addresses. As we’ve seen in France and Sweden, this leads to crypto kidnappings, torturings, and murders,” Carter noted on X. “Yes, real estate records are semi-public, but this is an easily searchable database and target list.”
The backlash comes amidst a troubling rise in physical or “wrench” attacks against cryptocurrency holders, which have included kidnappings, torture, home invasions, and sexual assaults.
In February, blockchain security firm CertiK reported 72 verified crypto "wrench attacks" globally in 2025, marking a 75% increase from the previous year and leading to losses exceeding $40.9 million.
In April, French authorities charged 88 suspects, including over 10 minors, in a major crackdown on violent crypto kidnappings. In May, U.S. prosecutors indicted three men linked to a series of armed home invasions in California that allegedly resulted in the theft of millions in cryptocurrency. In June, two brothers in Texas pleaded guilty to the kidnapping of a Minnesota family, coercing them to transfer over $8 million in crypto.
As of July, CertiK reported that attackers had already executed 52 verified crypto "wrench attacks" in the first half of 2026, with the financial exposure skyrocketing nearly twelvefold year over year to $124 million.