After stepping down as mayor of New York City, he turned around and started selling cryptocurrency.
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After stepping down as mayor of New York City, he turned around and started selling cryptocurrency.
Adams said, "I only work for myself."
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsReporting by: Nicholas Fandos, Debra Kamin
Translation: Chopper, Foresight News
Two weeks ago, Eric Adams held one of the most powerful positions in the U.S. government. Today, he stands beneath the neon-lit billboards of Times Square, promoting a New York City-themed cryptocurrency.
For anyone else, such a shift in stature might seem embarrassing—but the former mayor wore a broad smile throughout, enthusiastically touting the benefits of blockchain technology and vowing not to profit from the venture—at least for now.
"I've missed you all so much, ladies and gentlemen," he told a group of reporters, before quickly pivoting to denounce what he called "major mistakes" made by his successor, boast about business opportunities in foreign capitals, and declare that his experience in municipal services like waste collection has now become monetizable "professional capital."
It was his first public appearance since stepping down on January 1—cut short only because he needed to catch a flight. He would first head to Dallas, then onward to Senegal, where, he said, even greater opportunities awaited.
At 65, Adams remains one of the most unconventional mayors in New York City history—a working-class native and former police officer now facing federal charges over his taste for luxury. And early signs suggest his post-mayoral career will follow the same unorthodox path.
Over the past two weeks alone, he met with a Saudi prince in Dubai, visited the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and repeatedly attacked his successor, Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of reversing some of Adams’ pro-Israel policies. The moves broke an unwritten tradition among outgoing mayors to show deference to their successors.
Details surrounding many of Adams’ business deals remain murky, including the identities of his partners in the cryptocurrency project. But his post-office priorities are becoming clearer: restoring his personal reputation, criticizing his successor, and paying off massive legal debts. Which of these comes first remains unclear.
"I'm never going to get a nine-to-five salaried job again," Adams said. "I work for myself now."
Adams isn’t the only former New York political figure positioning himself for life after office—and setting his sights on Mamdani. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is finalizing a deal to host a weekly show on conservative talk radio station WABC, where he was a frequent guest during his failed re-election campaign.
According to the New York Post, the program will give Cuomo a steady platform to promote his centrist Democratic views—and likely take shots at Mamdani, whom he has previously labeled a "far-left radical."
John Catsimatidis, the Republican billionaire who owns the station, said he doesn’t plan to pay Cuomo, but wants to help him stay relevant after his electoral defeat. A broadcast time has not yet been set. "We feel bad about what happened to him, and we love New York," Catsimatidis said. "He wants to stay visible and connected to New Yorkers."
Still, so far, it’s Adams who has drawn the most attention.
Just hours after attending Mamdani’s inauguration, he boarded an Emirates Airlines flight to Dubai with his longtime partner, Tracey Collins. In addition to the Saudi prince, he was photographed meeting with several wealthy Israeli and Uzbek businessmen.
Numerous current and former political figures attended Zohran Mamdani's mayoral inauguration, including Adams
He dined with real estate agent and reality TV personality Eleonora Srugo and posted photos on social media with Amir Marashi, an Iranian-born gynecologist in New York and women’s health advocate specializing in vaginal rejuvenation procedures.
All the while, Adams has kept a close eye on developments in New York City, frequently posting online critiques of Mamdani’s governance—such as Mamdani’s reversal of the city’s expanded definition of antisemitism and questions about certain personnel appointments.
"Everyone deserves a grace period, but hatred allows no grace for anyone," Adams said at Monday’s event.
Mamdani, meanwhile, declined to respond to Adams’ criticisms at another event.
Adams’ interest in cryptocurrency is nothing new. While still mayor, he chose to receive his first paycheck in cryptocurrency. He is close friends with crypto billionaire Brock Pierce, who—along with others in the industry—helped fund his mayoral campaign before he dropped out of the re-election race last fall.
During his tenure, Adams centered his administration around "supporting Israel and fighting antisemitism." Now, he is framing the new token as a philanthropic initiative, claiming proceeds will combat antisemitism, anti-American sentiment, and "teach children to embrace blockchain technology."
The token’s official website says it will have a total supply of one billion. Adams said he plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to nonprofit organizations dedicated to those causes and insists he will not take a salary or any compensation—at least in the early stages.
"NYC Token is a next-generation cryptocurrency inspired by New York City’s relentless energy and spirit of innovation," the project’s website states. "Built on cutting-edge blockchain technology, we’re creating a decentralized financial ecosystem whose ambitions match those of the city itself."
Nonetheless, Adams has struggled to articulate key details about the project. At Monday’s event and in an interview with Fox News, he repeatedly referred to the product as "New York City Coin" instead of its correct name.
Adams’ image features prominently on the token’s website, which invites visitors to "buy now"—yet as of Monday night, all purchase links on the site were nonfunctional.
The former mayor said he is also exploring other business ventures, including plans he intends to advance during this week’s trip to Africa.
"I’ve realized that many of the services New York City has—like garbage collection—are simply unavailable in large parts of the world," Adams said. "I intend to offer that help to other cities and countries."
All of this raises questions about whether Adams will ever truly return to New York. He previously suggested he might retire overseas rather than return to his Brooklyn home in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
But two people familiar with his plans said the former mayor still intends to base himself in New York City and is looking to rent an apartment in Manhattan—preferably one with a view. On Monday, Adams tried to dispel speculation. "I’m not going anywhere," he said.
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