TechFlow news, according to Protos, the NYC Dog Mayor election has recently been disrupted by cryptocurrency speculators, causing a leading candidate to withdraw from the race. Holders of a meme coin named BERT allegedly engaged in unethical tactics to boost votes for their candidate dog, Bertram, while attacking other contenders, aiming to inflate the token's price.
Olivia Caputo, owner of candidate dog Enzo, announced her withdrawal on social media, stating the contest had become "a catalyst for spreading hate, negativity, and violent threats." Caputo accused supporters of the BERT token of paying for votes and offering incentives to sway voting, with some group chat participants implying this was a "pump-and-dump" scheme.
According to its website, the NYC Dog Mayor competition "aims to create something fun and joyful during a time when many people are struggling; provide a unique opportunity for community development in New York City, and present politics and civic engagement in a positive, educational, and engaging way (this time around)."
