NYC Mayor Eric Adams Plans to Establish Crypto Advisory Council

Highlights:

• Mayor Adams announced a digital assets council to boost jobs and crypto investment.
• City may accept crypto payments and put birth records on blockchain for efficiency.
• Lawmakers propose bills to study crypto use and regulate blockchain in New York.

In opening remarks at the inaugural New York City Crypto Summit on May 20, NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced he would create the digital assets advisory council. He said the goal is to attract jobs and investment as New York City works to become the world’s “crypto capital.” More details about the council were not shared, but Adams said the chair and key policy recommendations would be announced in the coming weeks.

Adams said experts are present to help navigate solutions benefiting the city. He also said the age of tokenization, including crypto, blockchain, and other fintech innovations, has arrived, and they will keep moving forward with it. Adams stated, “This is not about chasing memes or trends. We want to use the technology of tomorrow to better serve New Yorkers today.”

We're taking the next step in becoming the Crypto Capitol of the WORLD, hosting our city's first-ever Crypto and Digital Assets Summit! Join us LIVE as we get started: https://t.co/iwO6ThkaSB

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) May 20, 2025

Mayor’s Vision for Blockchain and Crypto

Few details were shared about the mayor’s plans for blockchain and crypto in New York. Adams said they are also looking into the possibility of paying for city services and taxes using cryptocurrency. The council will also study how to use blockchain for public records. The mayor said NYC is considering putting death and birth certificates on a blockchain. This could help families get official documents faster and more safely.

He added:

“We want to bring jobs of the future to our city today. That means supporting the development of a more diverse, equitable, inclusive tech ecosystem. We must embrace this emerging technology and build on the success of our economy.”

At the end of the opening remarks, people interested in crypto and fintech talked with table leaders. They shared ideas and problems. The table leaders will bring the best ideas to Adams to put into a document.

Adams said the crypto industry might be entering a more positive phase. He implied that many in the space had faced unfair treatment and judgment, despite their commitment. Still, he commended their resilience and expressed hope that their persistence would be recognized as opinions begin to change.

Lawmakers Push Blockchain Use and Crypto Regulation in New York

The mayor, who has supported Bitcoin before, said this system would cut paperwork and improve services. There are no plans to start it right away, but talks will begin soon. City officials believe this could help families handle important records more easily in hard times.

Several bills to regulate cryptocurrency have been proposed by New York State lawmakers. In April, Assemblyman Clyde Vanel put forward a proposal to change state financial laws so that New York agencies can accept cryptocurrency payments. The legislation has not yet reached the full state House or Senate. In February, State Senator James Sanders Jr introduced the Blockchain Study Act, aiming to establish a task force dedicated to examining cryptocurrency developments in New York. The bill has not moved past the House.