Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams Accused of Rugpull After Issuing "NYC Token"

Former ‘bitcoin mayor’ Eric Adams faces $3 million rugpull allegation after issuing NYC Token

Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing scrutiny from crypto traders after a memecoin he promoted appeared to suffer a sharp liquidity withdrawal shortly after launch.

During his time as mayor, Adams was a frequent promoter of cryptocurrency, consistently reiterating his desire to make New York the crypto capital of the world, taking his first three paychecks in bitcoin via Coinbase, leading to crypto advocates calling Adams the “Bitcoin mayor” for his support of the space.

Paul Tzur and David Morrell Named Deputy Directors of the Division of Enforcement

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Paul H. Tzur and David M. Morrell have been named as Deputy Directors of the Division of Enforcement. Mr. Tzur joined the Commission on January 6, 2026, as the Deputy Director overseeing the agency’s enforcement program in the Chicago, Atlanta, and Miami Regional Offices. Mr. Morrell joined the Commission on January 12, 2026, as the Deputy Director overseeing the agency’s enforcement program in the New York, Boston, and Philadelphia Regional Offices.

Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson slams Trump’s crypto policy as ‘extractive,’ warns of industry fallout

Cardano creator Charles Hoskinson said U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has put the American crypto industry in a worse position than it was under Trump’s predecessor, former President Joe Biden.

Hoskinson, CEO and founder of Input Output Group, the company behind the Cardano blockchain and a co-founder of Ethereum, didn’t hold back in a wide-ranging interview with CoinDesk TV, sharply criticizing the Trump administration’s handling of the Trump Coin launch and his crypto policy. It’s the continuation of an ongoing turnaround by Hoskinson, who said shortly after Trump was elected in November 2024 that he would be working with Trump’s officials before souring on the administration last year. […]

“The very first thing he did is launch Trump Coin and it just felt like the extractiveness has now been institutionalized,” he said. “The U.S. government is participating in it as opposed to some Pump. fun person.” Pump. fun is among the first memecoin launchpads that attracted massive retail investors to the sector by making the creation of these coins easier.

New bill would ban stock trading by members of Congress and their spouses

A leading House Republican is introducing a new bill that seeks to ban stock trading by members of Congress as well as their spouses and dependent children in the latest effort to address ethics concerns with lawmakers’ investment portfolios. […]

A group of Democratic lawmakers pushed back on Steil’s bill, with Reps. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., releasing a joint statement saying that “any bill that still allows Members of Congress to own and trade stocks falls far short of what the American people want and deserve.”

“While this bill prohibits Members from buying new stocks, it does nothing to remove the conflict of interest that arises from owning or selling existing stocks. Members can still act on legislation, investigations, and briefings that directly influence the value of their stocks for personal benefit,” the lawmakers wrote.

Ex-Lazard Banker’s Insider Tips Reaped $41 Million Haul, US Says

A former dealmaker at Lazard Ltd., one of Wall Street’s most prominent investment banks, is accused by US authorities of feeding tips on health-care deals to a friend’s network of insider traders, who generated $41 million of illicit profits.

Justin Kim — now facing both criminal and regulatory charges — received a Rolex watch and career advice while leaking 10 potential takeovers over several years through 2023, according to a complaint from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, seeking to ban him from the industry. Last month, the Department of Justice unveiled fraud and insider trading charges against Kim that carry up to 25 years in prison.