Democratic socialist Zokhran Mamdani has won the New York City mayoral election, surpassing former state governor Andrew Cuomo, who actively promoted blockchain reforms and cryptocurrency development initiatives. According to the voting results, Mamdani received 50.6% of the votes, while Cuomo garnered 41.2%. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa trailed behind with minimal voter support.
This is reported by Business • Media
Cuomo Bet on Crypto Technologies, but Voters Preferred Social Change
Andrew Cuomo’s campaign was focused on innovative technologies: he proposed creating a position for a director of innovation to develop the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector in the city. Cuomo believed that such steps could stimulate public-private partnerships and contribute to economic growth.
However, as highlighted by Saga protocol CEO Rebecca Liao, Cuomo’s platform was closely aligned with the tech business but failed to engage the majority of voters.
“His platform might have attracted business attention, but not voters.”
In contrast, Zokhran Mamdani’s campaign focused on issues of social inequality and urban economic reforms. These topics, according to analysts, defined the choices of the metropolis’s residents.
The Role of Cryptocurrencies in Elections and the Situation in Other Regions
After losing in the Democratic Party primaries, Cuomo ran as an independent candidate; however, his initiatives did not gain widespread support. It is worth noting that former New York City mayor Eric Adams, who actively supported cryptocurrencies and even received part of his salary in Bitcoin, exited the race in September 2025 due to financial difficulties and media pressure. It was during his tenure that the first office for digital assets and blockchain in the U.S. was established in the city.
Meanwhile, in neighboring New Jersey, attention was drawn to the gubernatorial election, where pro-crypto candidate Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli. The organization Stand With Crypto stated that it mobilized tens of thousands of digital asset supporters to vote. According to their data, there are over 80,000 supporters of this movement in New Jersey, which correlates with the vote margin in the recent elections. Representatives of the organization emphasized that the support of activists was crucial for Sherrill’s victory, as she received the highest rating for her cryptocurrency initiatives.
It is also noteworthy that earlier in the elections in Argentina, the crypto-friendly party of Javier Milei won.