Adams’ NYC Memecoin Plummets 82% in First 24 Hours Post-Debut

Adams’ NYC Memecoin (ADNYC) experienced a sharp collapse just one day after its public launch, falling from an initial price of $1.25 to $0.22 by market close on January 14, 2026. The 82% decline wiped out approximately $182 million in market capitalization, reflecting extreme volatility common in speculative digital assets. The token’s debut was preceded by a viral marketing campaign that leveraged social media influencers and local New York City branding, drawing over 120,000 participants in the pre-launch token sale. The crash followed a surge in sell pressure, with trading volume spiking to 4.7 million units in the first 12 hours. Analysts noted that the project’s whitepaper lacked technical detail or sustainability metrics, raising questions about long-term viability. Additionally, 68% of the initial supply was allocated to early investors and team wallets, with no vesting schedule, prompting concerns about potential coordinated dumping. The collapse impacted retail investors most severely, with many reporting losses exceeding 90% of their initial investment. The token’s trading pairs on major exchanges like Binance and Kraken were delisted by January 15, and the project’s official Discord server became inactive. Despite a brief recovery attempt later in the day, the token remained below $0.25, signaling weak market confidence. Regulatory scrutiny is expected to follow. The Securities and Exchange Commission has previously warned about the risks of unregistered digital assets with speculative price movements. The incident adds to growing concerns about the rise of branded memecoins tied to public figures, particularly in the absence of clear disclosure or governance structures.