William Banks: The Crypto Robin Hood Who Rugged $50K for Palestine and Escaped Prison

William Banks, a New York-based artist and comedian, orchestrated one of the most chaotic crypto stunts in history—launching a meme coin, rug-pulling $50,000, donating it to Palestinian charities, and escaping prison. His actions have polarized the internet, with some labeling him a scammer and others hailing him as a modern-day Robin Hood. This article delves into his audacious exploits, from the meme coin scheme to his jailbreak and life on the run.

Who Is William Banks?

William Banks is an actor, comedian, and artist known for his unhinged performances in short films and underground comedy. Based in New York City, he gained notoriety for his role in Car World before its collapse. His recent work focuses on the consequences of a crime he committed, and he’s now preparing for a celebrity boxing match in Argentina.

In February 2025, Banks launched a Solana-based meme coin called White Moses (MOSES) on Pump.fun. Investors flocked to the project, driving its market cap to $257,000 in under an hour. Then, in a swift move, Banks dumped his holdings, crashing the coin’s value and leaving investors empty-handed.

After deleting all promotional posts, Banks declared on X (formerly Twitter), “William Banks is Robin Hood. Thank you to the crypto community for buying my pretend memecoin and helping me to raise $50,000 for the crisis in Gaza. Free Palestine.” He shared receipts showing $10,000 donations to five Palestinian charities, some of which confirmed receiving the funds.

The internet erupted. Critics accused him of fraud, while supporters praised his audacity. Political commentator Eden Riley tweeted, “He escaped from jail only to immediately rug-pull a bunch of crypto bros to donate the money to Palestine… he might be the greatest to ever do it.”

How Did William Banks Escape Prison?

Banks’ crypto stunt followed a dramatic jailbreak. In October 2024, he was sentenced to eight months in a Connecticut prison for stealing and discarding five Israeli signs from private yards. Before his trial, he posted on X, “I’m facing some pretty serious charges… I might be going away for a little bit.” Two days later, he announced his sentence with characteristic humor: “I have terrible news. The state of Connecticut has sentenced me to 8 months in jail.”

While incarcerated, Banks continued posting bizarre content, amassing a cult following. Then, during a jail riot, he escaped. He later shared a video reenactment of his crawl under a fence, which went viral with over 20 million views. By the time authorities noticed his absence, he was already plotting his next move—crypto.

Life on the Run: Girlfriend, Fanbase, and Chaos

Despite being a fugitive, Banks remains active online. He’s been posting videos with a new girlfriend, a “baddie” who appears in clips laughing, dancing, and smoking with him. Their content is described as “bizarre” yet irresistibly engaging.

X users are divided. One fan wrote, “William Banks got an 8-month jail bid for stealing Israel signs… becomes White Moses and orchestrates a breakout. My new greatest of all time.” Another joked, “Nothing against William Banks but any time I see a guy with a beautiful girlfriend I hope he gets hit by a car.”

Some speculate his antics are an elaborate bit. A user quipped, “Can’t wait to watch William Banks get shot in the neck… (I’ll be smiling quietly because I’m a special smart boy and I know it’s a bit).”

FAQs About William Banks

What is William Banks known for?

William Banks is an artist and comedian who gained fame for rug-pulling a $50,000 meme coin donation to Palestine and escaping prison.

How did William Banks escape jail?

He exploited a riot to crawl under a fence, later posting a viral reenactment video.

Is William Banks still active online?

Yes, he continues posting with his girlfriend and engaging his fanbase while evading authorities.