Mayor Adams uses taxpayer-funded crypto trip to fundraise, with help from NYC's top tech official

New York Post

29-05-2025

Winner winner, crypto dinner!
Mayor Eric Adams used his taxpayer-funded Las Vegas trip to a bitcoin convention to fill his campaign coffers with regular cash from crypto bros — with help from the city's top tech official, The Post has learned.
Hizzoner hosted the exclusive luncheon Wednesday afternoon at a seemingly unexclusive chain restaurant on the strip, where attendees were encouraged to max out their contribution limit, according to the invitation obtained by The Post.
Ahead of the fundraising lunch in the Calabria banquet room at Maggiano's Little Italy, the Big Apple's Chief Technology Officer made his case to the crowd about how New York City wants to embrace decentralized tech and digital currencies.
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3 Crypto billionaire Brock Pierce hosted the fundraiser.
NYC Mayor's Office
'When New York City looks at crypto, blockchain and bitcoin, we don't see it as an evolving technology, we see it as a necessary tool like running water,' Matt Fraser said, introducing Adams, according to a stream of the DNA House event.
Adams continued the Big Apple's pro-tech pitch to industry leaders, declaring, 'We are open for business.'
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'I think the communication that is coming out of Washington and New York City is a synergy that we are going to get this done,' he continued.
As the mayor wrapped, a QR code flashed on the screen behind him, advertising his campaign donor drive at the corporate Italian eatery, 'Lunch with Mayor Eric Adams,' according to the video.
The pair's pro-crypto speeches to the crowd — who were then immediately tapped for campaign donations — further blurred the lines between Adams officials' Big Apple duties and the mayor's longshot re-election bid.
3 NYC's Chief Technology Officer, Matthew Fraser, served as an opening act to the fundraiser.
NYC Mayor's Office
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Bitcoin billionaire and child actor Brock Pierce then jumped up on stage and instructed all those who have donated to head to the back of the room to get their seats for the luncheon.
'We're going to have a quick lunch and then continue with our regular scheduled programming,' Pierce said.
Another organizer then followed up with the crowd, urging them to make a 'suggested donation' as indicated on the QR code.
The barcode redirects people to the NYC Campaign Finance Board's donation page, where two donation options are prepopulated: $2,100 or 'other.'
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3 Mayor Eric Adams pitched himself to the crowd as making NYC the crypto capital of the world.
NYC Mayor's Office
It was unknown how many people attended the lunch or how much money was raised.
Adams gave a pro-crypto speech earlier in the day at the main Bitcoin conference at The Venetian and spoke to the crowd again during the DNA House two-day event later in the evening — both of which were on the mayor's public schedule.
But the speeches by Fraser and Adams at Maggiano's Little Italy, both speaking in their official capacity to kick off the fundraiser, were not publicly disclosed.
The invite states the lunch was paid for by the mayor's reelection campaign and hosted by Pierce.
'Matt Fraser introduced Mayor Adams at the conference in his personal capacity,' campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro insisted.
'His remarks were not coordinated by the campaign or City Hall, and he had no role in any fundraising activities. Any suggestion that he used his position to improperly promote the mayor or solicit donations is simply false.'
Press secretary Kayla Mamelak said Fraser did not have anything to do with the fundraiser and City Hall will work with the Conflict of Interest Board if any reimbursements from the campaign are necessary.
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Mamelak asserted that the pro-crypto speeches and the fundraiser were separate events.
Calls to Pierce were not immediately returned.
Adams has started to restart fundraising for his reelection bid since his historic criminal case was killed last month, with the latest campaign filing showing a haul of $155,000, nearly five times the prior period.
But even after moving off the Democratic line in the race, Adams has largely stayed off the traditional campaign trail.
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Instead, he's opted to use the bully pulpit in City Hall to pitch his record to New Yorkers.
That strategy has yet to gain much traction with voters.
The latest PIX11/Emerson poll still had Adams' approval rating at historic lows of 19%.