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NYC property database overhaul draws crypto industry backlash over safety
Critics say aggregating and searching publicly available NYC assessment records could help identify wealthy crypto holders amid reports of violent targeting.
A searchable database built from New York City property assessment records has drawn backlash from prominent crypto figures, who argue that making the data easier to search increases privacy and physical security risks.
According to Decrypt, the underlying information comes from the New York City Department of Finance, which publishes assessed values used to calculate property taxes, along with FY2027 assessment roll data, supplemental market value data, and property tax guides through the city's Open Data portal.
Crypto executives say the problem is not that the records are public, but that they have been aggregated and organized into a centralized, searchable tool. Uniswap founder Hayden Adams called it "the worst mass doxxing I've ever seen," saying the database listed nearly every unit in some luxury buildings, including homes of people he knows.
Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz described the tool as "unsettling" and said it effectively singled out wealthy individuals, while Castle Island Ventures partner Nic Carter warned that an easily searchable list of addresses could make potential victims easier to identify, citing crypto-related kidnappings and violent attacks in Europe.