William Banks: The Comedian Who Rug-Pulled a Meme Coin for Palestine and Went Viral

William Banks, a 27-year-old New York-based performance artist and comedian, has become an unlikely internet sensation after a audacious stunt: launching a Solana-based meme coin, rug-pulling $50,000 in proceeds, and donating it all to Palestinian charities—right after staging a dramatic “prison escape” video that garnered over 20 million views.

The Viral “Prison Escape” Video That Started It All

Banks first exploded onto social media in February 2025 with a video depicting him and his friends “escaping” from a Connecticut jail by crawling through a fence, humorously dubbed a “fugitive” adventure. The clip, which amassed 20.7 million views on X (formerly Twitter), showcased Banks’ signature absurd, satirical style, blending performance art with social commentary. While the escape was a staged prank—confirmed by Westport Police as no actual breakout occurred—it struck a chord, turning Banks into a cult figure for his unhinged creativity.

The Meme Coin Rug-Pull: $50,000 Raised for Gaza

Capitalizing on the buzz, Banks launched the “White Moses” (MOSES) meme coin on Solana via Pump.fun, a platform for quick token creation. The coin skyrocketed, peaking at a $257,000 market cap within an hour, drawing in crypto enthusiasts eager to ride the wave. However, Banks swiftly “rug-pulled”—selling off holdings and crashing the price—netting $50,000. In a twist, he announced the proceeds would fund humanitarian aid for Gaza, posting receipts for five $10,000 donations to Palestinian charities. Some organizations, like those supporting Gaza relief, confirmed receipt, while others were pending verification.

Banks later deleted promotional posts, tweeting: “William Banks is Robin Hood. Thank you to the crypto community for buying my pretend memecoin and helping me raise $50,000 for the crisis in Gaza. Free Palestine.” The move sparked a firestorm of reactions—accusations of scamming versus hero worship—with political commentator Eden Riley tweeting: “He escaped from jail only to immediately rug-pull a bunch of crypto bros to donate the money to Palestine. Greatest person to ever do it.”

Banks’ Crypto Hate: A Stunt Born of Spite

In a Cryptopolitan interview, Banks revealed he despises crypto, viewing it as “negative” and “dangerous,” full of scammers exploiting hype. The rug-pull was intentional, born of resentment toward crypto influencers who approached him post-viral fame, pushing meme coins for profit. “They were using me, so I used them back,” Banks said, citing figures like Jester, a self-proclaimed “meme coin advertiser” he called “absolutely horrible.” He emphasized the stunt raised funds for his escape “buddies” and Palestinian causes, stating, “I am never doing anything in crypto again.”

Community and Impact: Hero or Scammer?

The internet split: Critics decried the rug-pull as fraud, while supporters hailed Banks as a “Robin Hood” figure, using crypto’s greed for good. The episode highlighted meme coins’ volatility, with MOSES crashing post-pull, but Banks’ donations—verified by some charities—added a layer of authenticity. His 8-month “prison” stint stemmed from removing pro-Israel signs in Westport, Connecticut, adding to the narrative of rebellion.