Eric Adams Pushes New York Deeper Into Crypto With Nation’s First Digital Assets Office

In a landmark move solidifying his pro-crypto stance, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has officially established the Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology, marking a major milestone in the city’s efforts to become a global hub for digital innovation.

The new office, created through mayoral executive order #57, will operate under the mayor’s purview and report to the city’s chief technology officer. 

Its mission is to drive investment, innovation, and adoption of blockchain and crypto technologies across New York City, setting the stage for what Adams described as “the next great wave of economic opportunity.”

“Our first-in-the-nation Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain will help make us the global capital of digital assets,” Adams said on X. “This new mayoral office is going to help us stay ahead of the curve, grow our economy, and attract world-class talent.”

A Vision for a Crypto-Fueled Future

The office’s creation shows Adams’ long-term vision of positioning New York as the “Crypto Capital of the World.” It builds on his previous initiatives, including the formation of a Digital Assets Advisory Council earlier this year, aimed at bridging the gap between city government and the crypto industry.

To lead the new initiative, Adams appointed Moises Rendon, a former blockchain policy advisor who has worked in the city’s Office of Innovation and Technology since 2024. Rendon’s first task will be to assemble a commission of digital asset leaders to guide the office’s work and advise on policy directions.

“Mayor Adams’ creation of this new office proves that the future is now for digital assets and blockchain in New York City,” Rendon said. “I am honored to lead the nation’s first municipal office dedicated to responsibly deploying these technologies.”

Strategic Timing and Regulatory Ambition

According to the mayor’s press secretary, Kayla Mamelak Altus, the office has been in the works for months, with the administration taking time to find the right leader before making the announcement.

The launch comes as Adams continues to push for regulatory reform, including his recent call to abolish New York’s restrictive BitLicense regime, which many crypto firms have criticized as a barrier to entry. The new office is expected to play a key role in modernizing the city’s digital asset policies, making it more attractive for crypto startups and institutional investors alike.

From ‘Bitcoin Mayor’ to Legacy Builder

Mayor Adams, often dubbed “The Bitcoin Mayor” after receiving his first few paychecks in Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2022, has remained one of the most prominent pro-crypto political figures in the United States. His willingness to integrate blockchain into public systems — from birth and death records to financial infrastructure — has been a defining part of his administration’s technology agenda.

Although Adams has withdrawn from the 2025 reelection race, his crypto-forward policies are poised to shape New York’s digital economy for years to come.

As the city prepares for new leadership in January, prediction markets like Myriad and Polymarket show Zohran Mamdani leading the race with roughly 88% odds of winning, followed by Andrew Cuomo with about 10%. 

Contract on next New York city mayoral election (Source: Polymarket)

Regardless of who takes office next, Adams’ establishment of the Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology could cement New York City’s status as a pioneering hub in the next phase of the global crypto economy.