Rug Pull

Definition ∞ A rug pull is a deceptive scheme in the cryptocurrency sector where project developers abruptly abandon the project, liquidating all pooled assets from a decentralized exchange (DEX) or selling their substantial holdings. This action causes the token’s value to plummet precipitously, rendering investor assets worthless. It constitutes a fraudulent exit strategy.
Context ∞ Rug pulls are a prevalent and widely publicized risk within the decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible token (NFT) markets, frequently appearing in crypto news as warnings. These incidents severely diminish investor confidence and underscore the necessity of extensive due diligence before committing to new projects. The ongoing effort involves community oversight, rigorous smart contract audits, and enhanced platform vetting to mitigate such fraudulent activities.