--- title: "You’ll Be Shocked to Hear That the WeWork Guy’s Crypto Startup Is Shriveling Up and Dying" description: "Adam \"WeWork Guy\" Neumann's crypto company has been discreetly refunding investors after years of failing to do anything said it would do." date: "2024-09-13" modified: "2024-09-13" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/adam-neumann-crypto-startup-dying" categories: - "Blockchain" - "Cryptocurrency" - "Future Society" tags: - "crypto" - "crypto bros" - "the digest" - "wework" --- # You’ll Be Shocked to Hear That the WeWork Guy’s Crypto Startup Is Shriveling Up and Dying ![Adam "WeWork Guy" Neumann's crypto company has been discreetly refunding investors after years of failing to do anything said it would do.]() *\Image: Shahar Azran via Getty\* ## Goddess Nature Token To the surprise of no one with critical thinking skills, [*Forbes* reported yesterday]() that WeWork founder and former CEO Adam Neumann's climate-focused cryptocurrency venture has been discreetly refunding investors after years of failing to do anything said it would do. Launched about two years ago, Neumann's Flowcarbon venture was billed as a way to link carbon credits to the blockchain. In short, Neumann said Flowcarbon would launch a cryptocurrency called — we're definitely not laughing — "Goddess Nature Token," which would be backed 1:1 by real-world carbon credits. Carbon credits are buyable, tradable certificates that represent a measurable reduction in fossil fuel emissions, often purchased in large quantities by corporations to offset the environmental harm they do. In theory, Flowcarbon's value was its promise to bring the [sometimes controversial]() carbon market to the masses — and investors bit. It [announced]() in 2022 that it had raked in $70 million, at least $38 million of which came from Goddess Nature Token presales, as [*Coindesk* noted at the time](). The venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz was also a major investor by way of its a16z investment fund. But fast forward almost two years later, and Goddess Nature Tokens have yet to materialize. And they might never: according to *Forbes*, over the last several weeks, Flowcarbon has been quietly paying back presale buyers. ## Odds Were High According to *Forbes'* sources, Flowcarbon blamed the ever-ubiquitous excuse of market conditions, as well as apparent friction with carbon registries, for the decision to return investors' cash. But there was a catch. To get their investment back, as *Forbes* put it, "purchasers were asked to sign a release including a broad waiver of claims against Flowcarbon and its affiliates." The release also included confidentiality terms. In response to questions, Flowcarbon told *Forbes* that "it's well known that since last year we have been offering refunds to retail GNT buyers due to the industry delays, with standard and customary terms, as we continue to grow Flowcarbon as a leader in carbon finance." It was probably foreseeable that Neumann, an oft-shoeless, [self-styled lifestyle guru]() whose formerly multibillion-dollar coworking empire rose and fell in spectacular fashion, would get involved in the cryptosphere. The barely-regulated crypto market, where [values]() are driven [mostly by vibes](), is [rife]() with [personality cults]() and [grifters](). In a similar vein, Neumann's billions were made through inflated investments rooted largely in his messianic persona and zeal to reshape lives in his image. So in the wake of WeWork's [catastrophic failure](), taking to the wild west of the crypto market was maybe the second-most predictable thing that the Nuemann has ever done — after failing at it, of course. By the way, have we mentioned that he also has a new [crypto-entangled real estate startup]()? **More on Neumann schemes businesses:** [*WeWork Guy's Apartment Rental Company Plans to Launch Crypto That Can't Be Used to Pay Rent*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()