Searchable NYC property database draws security concerns

A searchable database compiled from New York City property assessment records has prompted criticism from prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry who say the tool makes wealthy owners easier to identify and could increase security risks.

The dataset is drawn from records published by the New York City Department of Finance, which annually releases assessed values, supplemental market data and tax guides through the city’s Open Data portal. The agency has not described the searchable tool as an effort to single out individuals; the records themselves have been public in less accessible formats for years.

Critics object to the aggregation and indexing of those records into a centralized, easy-to-query database that can be searched by address, building or owner name. Uniswap founder Hayden Adams called the project “the worst mass doxxing I’ve ever seen,” writing that the database listed nearly every unit in some luxury buildings, including primary residences of people he knows.

Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz described the resource as “unsettling,” saying the tool has organized scattered public records in a way that highlights high-value properties. Nic Carter of Castle Island Ventures warned the list could help identify potential targets, pointing to a series of violent attacks linked to cryptocurrency holdings in recent years.

Security firms and law enforcement agencies report a rise in so-called wrench attacks — violent robberies, kidnappings and home invasions aimed at forcing victims to transfer cryptocurrency. Blockchain security firm CertiK reported 72 verified wrench attacks worldwide in 2025, a 75% increase from 2024, with losses of more than $40.9 million. By July 2026, CertiK had recorded 52 verified attacks in the first half of the year and estimated financial exposure at roughly $124 million for that period.

Authorities in several countries have pursued cases tied to violent crimes involving cryptocurrency. French prosecutors charged 88 suspects, including minors, in an investigation into violent kidnappings linked to crypto. In the United States, federal prosecutors indicted three men in May on charges connected to a series of armed home invasions in California that targeted people believed to hold crypto. In June, two Texas brothers pleaded guilty to kidnapping a Minnesota family and forcing transfers of more than $8 million in cryptocurrency.

Supporters of open data contend that accessible assessment records help taxpayers and businesses understand valuations and support tax administration. Opponents say presenting the same information in a searchable format that links market values to specific units effectively creates a list of high-value residential addresses.

The debate centers on whether compiling public assessment data into a centralized, searchable database crosses a privacy or safety line by making it easier to identify owners of expensive properties. Industry voices are calling for a review of how public records are presented online and for safeguards that could limit easy targeting, while transparency advocates caution that restricting access to basic property information could affect accountability in municipal finance and tax administration.