New York City Digital Assets Office Launched by Mayor Adams

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced the formation of a municipal digital assets and blockchain office, strengthening his crypto agenda during the final phase of his mayoral term. The move aims to establish New York City as a leading player in digital assets and blockchain innovation.

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Background of the Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology

On Tuesday, Adams signed an executive order creating the Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology. Moises Rendon, who has served as a policy adviser on digital assets and blockchain for New York City since April 2024, was appointed as the office’s first head. According to the mayor’s office, this initiative is designed to develop “strategies to strengthen the city’s role” as a cryptocurrency hub, including advising on policy and legislative matters.

Adams stated, “Our city has always been the center of innovation, and we’re embracing the technologies of tomorrow today” (Cointelegraph).

Executive Order NO.57 (NYC, Eric Adams) — Executive order from New York City Mayor Eric Adams setting up the “Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology.”

Mayor Adams’ Ongoing Crypto Initiatives

Mayor Adams is well-known in the cryptocurrency community for pledging to take his first three paychecks in Bitcoin while campaigning in 2021. During his term, he established a digital advisory council, advocated for city-issued Bitcoin-backed bonds, and has spoken out against New York’s restrictive BitLicense regime.

The new digital assets office will collaborate with the city’s Office of Technology and Innovation and report directly to Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. Its creation is part of a broader effort to attract world-class talent, expand opportunities for underbanked communities, and modernize city government services using blockchain technology. The office is also charged with advising the mayor on related legislation and ensuring New York City remains competitive in the digital assets sector.

Looking Ahead: Market and Political Reactions

With Adams not seeking reelection—his term is set to end January 1, 2026—industry attention has shifted to future city leadership. The next mayoral election is scheduled for November 4, 2025, with frontrunners including independent Andrew Cuomo, Democrat Zohran Mamdani, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Zohran Mamdani, currently leading polls, has championed stronger stablecoin consumer protections in New York. Cuomo, by contrast, has previously advised the crypto exchange OKX, drawing criticism from Mamdani. Industry leaders, including Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss, have expressed intentions to “get involved” in the 2025 election, either personally or financially, due to the future direction of the city’s digital assets policy.

As New York City’s leadership prepares for a political transition, the newly established Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology is expected to shape forthcoming municipal crypto initiatives and policy recommendations in one of the world’s principal financial hubs.

To explore more about cryptocurrency news and policy, visit our Cryptocurrency section.

What’s Next for New York’s Crypto Strategy?

With just months remaining in Adams’ term, the new digital assets office will be focused on solidifying New York City’s position as a center for blockchain technology. Stakeholders from both the public and private sectors will be monitoring the office’s progress as the city navigates future crypto regulation amidst changing political leadership. How the office will impact local industry growth and innovation, and its influence on future mayoral candidates’ policies, will be closely watched in the lead-up to the 2025 election.

Sources:
Cointelegraph