Mayor Eric Adams has signed Executive Order 57 to establish the Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology, making NYC the first U.S. city to house a dedicated municipal agency focused on crypto and blockchain development. Moises Rendon, a veteran in government digitalz assets policy, will serve as its inaugural executive director.
What the executive order says
Under Executive Order 57, the new office will be placed within the Mayor’s Office and report to the city’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Its key responsibilities include:
- Fostering growth & investment
Supporting blockchain and digitalJ asset businesses in New York, attracting investment, and driving economic expansion. - Policy development & coordination
Advising the Mayor’s Office on regulatory and legislative strategies to responsibly nurture crypto innovation. - Interagency alignment
Working closely with the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), and coordinating across city agencies to align blockchain initiatives and policies. - Public engagement & inclusion
Educating New Yorkers on digital assets, promoting access (especially for underbanked communities), and advancing safe, equitable use of technology. - External partnerships
Liaising with state and federal actors, as well as private industry, to help ensure that city-level blockchain efforts are aligned with broader policy frameworks.
The order took immediate effect upon signing.
Who is leading it: Moises Rendon
Moises Rendon was appointed by Mayor Adams to be the first Executive Director of the Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain.
Rendon has served as a policy adviser for digital assets and blockchain within NYC’s Office of Technology and Innovation, where he has spearheaded citywide research and strategic initiatives involving digital assets.
His background includes roles advising government and international stakeholders on fintech, economic development, and blockchain policy. He holds a Master of Laws in International Business and Economic Law from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Laws from Andrés Bello Catholic University in Venezuela.
Rendon will report directly to CTO Matt Fraser and is expected to convene an advisory commission of industry leaders to inform the office’s work.
Why NYC is doing this now
Cementing NYC as a crypto hub
Mayor Adams has long signaled a pro-crypto stance. In 2022, he became the first U.S. mayor to take his initial paychecks in Bitcoin. He has also hosted a crypto summit at Gracie Mansion and advocated for crypto innovation as part of the city’s economic future.
By establishing a dedicated office, the city aims to send a strong signal to startups, firms, investors and regulators that New York is serious about positioning itself at the forefront of digital asset development.
Policy certainty & governance
A city-level agency allows for more consistent policy engagement with industry, and can better coordinate regulation, development, and consumer protections tailored to the municipal level.
Inclusion & public benefit
The order explicitly mentions outreach to underbanked communities, aiming to ensure that the benefits of digital assets are available more broadly across New York.
Reactions & challenges ahead
Industry reaction
Crypto and fintech observers broadly welcomed the move, viewing it as a progressive step for urban digital governance. Cointelegraph called it “cement[ing] his crypto agenda.”
Some commentators note that Adams is nearing the end of his term (January 2026) and that the office will need structural resilience beyond this administration.
Implementation hurdles
- Regulatory overlap: The city must align with state and federal regulations, potentially navigating areas like securities law, consumer protection, and financial regulation.
- Resourcing & talent: Attracting world-class blockchain and policy talent to the city and maintaining funding will be critical to success.
- Policy clarity & risk management: Striking a balance between innovation and risk, especially around3 fraud, consumer safety, and operational integrity.
Sustainability & legacy
For the office to be effective, it must endure beyond Adams’s term, with institutional backing, clear mandates, and public accountability. The inaugural leadership and early initiatives will set a tone and path dependency.
What to watch
- The first public policy proposals or pilot programs from the office
- The makeup and findings of the advisory commission Rendon will convene
- Partnerships with private firms and blockchain projects
- How New York’s approach compares with other cities’ blockchain or fintech efforts (domestic or global)
- Whether the next mayor and city council sustain or expand the office’s mandate
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