Andrew Cuomo, a former New York governor turned mayoral candidate, has pivoted to crypto to beat frontrunner Zohran Mamdani. Cuomo has pledged to make town a “world hub of the longer term.”
In a Sunday announcement, Cuomo introduced that his administration would create a brand new Chief Innovation Officer function to spearhead town’s tech and crypto innovation.
His proposal comes days after the present mayor, Eric Adams, established the “nation’s first-ever” municipal workplace for crypto and blockchain. He appointed crypto coverage skilled Moises Rendon to guide the workplace as govt director.
Moreover, Adams had beforehand accused Cuomo of dismantling the crypto business by means of hostile insurance policies. Final month, Adams withdrew from the mayoral race, ending his re-election marketing campaign, citing monetary struggles.
CIO to Coordinate Multi-Tech Initiatives
Andrew Cuomo famous that the CIO is “a senior administration place” and would work to assist rising industries comparable to AI and blockchain.
Moreover, the function will even be answerable for fostering public-private collaboration and serving to town’s public sector harness new applied sciences.
“The subsequent Mayor should make certain we’re additionally main within the applied sciences that may outline the subsequent century — AI, blockchain, and biotech,” mentioned Cuomo.
Additional, an Innovation Council, comprising leaders from the three rising tech fields – crypto, AI and biotech, can be established to advise the CIO on coverage developments and shopper safety.
“That’s what this place is about: Retaining New York Metropolis not simply aggressive, however dominant within the world innovation economic system. I’m excited for the longer term.”
The Council for crypto and blockchain will discover methods to “exchange outdated laws with a contemporary framework,” the announcement learn.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams’s Exit Offers Cuomo a Aggressive Edge
Adam’s exit has left New York politics with out one of many pro-crypto leaders in elected workplace. With voting scheduled to happen on Nov. 4, the Metropolis Corridor is skeptical whether or not it will proceed to embrace digital belongings or take a extra cautious path.
However, Democrat Zohran Mamdani, the mayoral hopeful, has been comparatively silent on crypto. Main crypto figures like Gemini crypto change co-founder Tyler Winklevoss, in addition to US AI and crypto czar David Sacks, have spat criticism in gentle of Mamdani’s rising recognition.
Winklevoss known as New York Metropolis a “damaged kleptocracy.” He added that “issues should worsen in NYC earlier than they get higher.”
Sacks known as on Silicon Valley to “get up” to the rising communism in New York.
Get up, Silicon Valley. That is the way forward for the Democrat Occasion. Communism has defeated liberalism. Even Invoice Clinton has bent the knee. You principally have two selections now: Get on board with MAGA or put together to be on Mamdani’s dinner menu. https://t.co/L5OKzRA3Gl
— David Sacks (@DavidSacks) June 29, 2025
Though the Polymarket ballot on NYC mayoral election reveals solely 7% probability for Andrew Cuomo, his involvement within the crypto business would give him credibility in New York’s complicated regulatory atmosphere.
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