NYC Launches First Office for Digital Assets and Blockchain

• NYC Launches First Digital Assets Office to Lead Blockchain Growth and Innovation Responsibly.
• Mayor Eric Adams signs Executive Order 57 to boost New York’s tech and finance ecosystem.
• Moises Rendon was named executive director to guide the city’s new blockchain and crypto office.

New York City mayor Eric Adams has taken another bold step toward modernizing the city’s economy. By signing Executive Order 57, he officially launched the Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain, the first mayoral department in the nation dedicated to digital finance and blockchain innovation.

The move places New York City at the center of a growing global conversation about how governments should engage with emerging technology. Per the reports, the office will guide the responsible use of digital assets, attract world-class talent, and expand opportunities for New Yorkers across every borough.

“The age of digital assets is here,” Adams said, “and with it comes the chance to grow our economy, attract world-class talent, expand opportunities for underbanked communities, and make government more user-friendly.

For Adams, this step continues his long-running mission to tie innovation directly to public progress and ensure that no one is left out of the digital future.

Building Bridges Between Innovation and Policy

At the center of the initiative is Moises Rendon, the office’s first executive director. His first task will be to form a commission of experts drawn from blockchain, fintech, and academia to help guide city policy.

Source: New York City Government

The office’s work will be overseen by the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), ensuring that city agencies share a common language regarding digital policy. Its primary goals include:

• Spark innovation across blockchain and cryptocurrency while maintaining responsible development.
• Improve financial access for unbanked and underbanked residents.
• Educate New Yorkers about both the promise and the risks associated with digital assets.
• Encourage investment and the formation of new businesses in emerging technology sectors.
• Shape policy that protects consumers without slowing innovation.

Rendon described the office as a bridge between government and the private sector, built to encourage trust, transparency, and inclusion. “I look forward…to develop policies and programs that make our government more accessible, transparent, and innovative for New Yorkers in the years ahead,” he said.

Mayor Adams’ Vision: From Bitcoin Paychecks to Policy Leadership

Mayor Adams’s reputation as a crypto supporter isn’t new. In 2022, he converted his first three paychecks into Bitcoin, becoming the first American mayor to do so. The gesture turned heads but also signalled a clear message that he saw blockchain as part of the city’s financial future.

Since taking office, Adams has hosted a crypto summit at Gracie Mansion, formed a digital advisory council, and pushed for Bitcoin-backed municipal bonds. He has also criticized the state’s BitLicense framework, calling it too restrictive for startups trying to innovate responsibly. This new office turns those ideas into an institutional framework, one designed to last beyond his own term.

Related: Powell Signals End of Balance Sheet Tightening While Bitcoin Sees Sharp Swings

Looking Ahead: Leadership Change and Industry Outlook

The announcement comes as the mayor’s political future draws to a close. Adams confirmed he will not run for re-election in 2025, with his term set to end on January 1, 2026. Still, he leaves behind a clear path for whoever leads next.

The Digital Assets Office will report directly to Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser, ensuring it remains embedded in the city’s technology infrastructure. Industry observers, including Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss, have already praised the move and hinted at supporting future leaders who back similar innovation efforts.

Meanwhile, the upcoming election is shaping up as a contest between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani, now leading in polls, favors stronger consumer protection laws but has acknowledged the economic potential of blockchain technology.

Cuomo’s campaign leans more toward innovation partnerships and business growth. Whatever direction voters choose, the foundation has been set. New York is no longer waiting for the future; it’s building it.