New York City’s self-proclaimed “Bitcoin Mayor,” Eric Adams, is once again staking the city’s future on crypto innovation. At the first-ever NYC Crypto Summit held this week, Adams made a significant announcement that signals a renewed push to integrate digital assets into the city’s economic and civic frameworks. His bold new initiative? The creation of a Digital Assets Advisory Council aimed at attracting fintech investment, creating jobs, and laying the groundwork for New York to become a global crypto hub.
Speaking to a packed room of blockchain advocates, developers, and fintech entrepreneurs, Mayor Adams made his intentions crystal clear: “My goal since day one has been to establish New York City as the crypto capital of the world. This council will help us get there.”
Adams, who famously took his first three paychecks as mayor in Bitcoin and Ethereum back in 2022, has long been a vocal supporter of blockchain technology. Now, his administration appears ready to take that vision from symbolism to action. While specific members of the council and its key recommendations are still under wraps, Adams promised more concrete details would be revealed within the coming weeks.
Beyond Memes: Blockchain for Civic Innovation
In his remarks, Adams emphasized that this isn’t just about chasing crypto hype or following trends. “This is about applying tomorrow’s technology to solve today’s problems,” he stated. One of the potential applications? Using blockchain to manage vital records like birth and death certificates. Adams and New York City CTO Matthew Fraser both underscored the value of blockchain in enhancing the security, privacy, and accessibility of sensitive public data.
“We’re looking closely at how blockchain can safeguard information while ensuring accessibility for those who need it,” Fraser explained. “Birth and death certificates are just the beginning.”
But the vision doesn’t stop there. Adams’ administration is also exploring whether residents could one day use cryptocurrency to pay for city services—including taxes. This could be a game-changer for the unbanked and underbanked communities in New York, offering alternative financial pathways that traditional systems often fail to provide.
“Think about what this could mean for people locked out of the legacy banking system,” said Fraser. “For them, using crypto isn’t about tech-savviness—it’s about survival. If we don’t build a system that includes everyone, we’ll fall behind.”
“I’m the Captain—Now I Need My Spock”
With his trademark charisma, Adams compared his crypto crusade to leading the Starship Enterprise into uncharted space. “I’m Captain Kirk looking for my Spock,” he joked, inviting collaboration from across the fintech and blockchain industries. The mayor stressed that this isn’t a solo journey—he’s calling on innovators, developers, and policymakers to join forces and help shape the city’s crypto strategy.
Following Adams’ remarks, summit attendees broke into working groups, brainstorming ideas and identifying pain points in the current regulatory landscape. Facilitators collected insights to be presented directly to Adams for consideration in future policy.
From Criticism to Vindication
Adams also addressed the skepticism he faced when he first embraced Bitcoin as a public official. “Remember when everyone laughed at me for taking my paycheck in crypto?” he asked with a grin. “Well, go look at my Bitcoin now.” His light-hearted but pointed remarks underscored the changing narrative around digital assets—one that has shifted from mockery to mainstream interest.
The mayor’s renewed crypto push comes just after President Donald Trump’s re-election, which has brought a wave of crypto-positive policy moves out of Washington. Adams has aligned himself with Trump’s regulatory stance, especially after the Department of Justice dropped a corruption investigation against him earlier this year. In a surprising political pivot, Adams will now run for re-election as an independent rather than seeking the Democratic nomination.
“You Were Demonized, But You Endured”
Adams ended his speech with a heartfelt message to the crypto community: “You were harassed, you were demonized, you were treated like outsiders. But you didn’t give up. Your resilience is incredible—and it’s about to pay off.”
With a new council on the way, fresh ideas brewing, and a mayor eager to turn vision into policy, New York City’s crypto future may finally be getting the structure it needs. Whether the Big Apple becomes the next crypto capital remains to be seen—but one thing’s certain: Eric Adams isn’t backing down.
