New York City mayoral candidate pledges to make NYC the 'most crypto-friendly city in America'

Curtis Sliwa, a Republican running for mayor of New York City wearing a beret, said one of his campaign goals is to focus on cryptocurrency.

Sliwa said in a tweet on Wednesday that he would focus on creating greater financial inclusion in New York City by opening more cryptocurrency ATMs and incentivizing businesses to accept cryptocurrencies. However, the mayoral candidate is currently only accepting U.S. dollar donations by personal check or credit card, according to his campaign website.

If I were the Mayor of New York City, I would make New York City the most crypto-friendly city in the country

Property taxes, fines and fees will be paid in cryptocurrency

We will open more cryptocurrency ATMs and incentivize businesses to accept cryptocurrencies

We must modernize our economy and open it up to everyone!

— Curtis Sliwa for Mayor of NYC (@CurtisSliwa) September 1, 2021

Sliwa, founder of the crime prevention group Guardian Angels, announced his intention to bring cryptocurrency to New York City in June before winning the Republican primary for the city’s mayoral race and set to face Democratic candidate Eric Adams in November.

Adams has also taken a seemingly pro-crypto stance, promising to make New York City a "bitcoin hub." In July, Adams defeated former presidential candidate and cryptocurrency advocate Andrew Yang in the Democratic primary. Yang also said he wanted to make the city a "hub for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies."

Mayors of some cities, both large and small, in the United States have been promoting the adoption of cryptocurrencies or otherwise taking a pro-digital asset stance. In August, Jayson Stewart, mayor of Cool Valley, Missouri, proposed giving away more than $1 million worth of Bitcoin to the city's approximately 1,500 residents. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also said he is a Bitcoin holder and hopes to make the Florida city attractive to those in the crypto and blockchain industries.