Mamdani's Emphasis on Social Issues Surpasses Cuomo's Cryptocurrency Advocacy in New York City Race

Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has achieved a commanding win in New York City's 2025 mayoral election, overcoming both former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. As reported by the Associated Press, Mamdani received 50.6% of the ballots, while Cuomo—who entered the race as an independent after failing to secure the Democratic nomination—earned 41.2%, as outlined in

. This victory represents a significant turning point for the city, especially regarding its stance on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, areas previously promoted by Cuomo.

Cuomo's campaign focused on advancing crypto-friendly policies, such as appointing a chief innovation officer to oversee blockchain and digital asset projects in New York. Rebecca Liao, co-founder and CEO of

, observed that Cuomo’s connections within the Democratic establishment made him a natural ally for the tech industry, while Mamdani’s campaign has centered on social priorities like affordable housing and childcare, rather than cryptocurrency. This distinction signals a possible change in the city’s direction on regulation and innovation, as Mamdani has made digital assets a central part of his agenda.

The election took place amid notable developments in New York’s crypto scene. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who famously accepted his first three paychecks in

and launched the country’s inaugural mayoral office for digital assets and blockchain, exited the race in September due to campaign finance issues. His departure left a gap in pro-crypto leadership, which Cuomo aimed to address by proposing an Innovation Council to promote blockchain, AI, and biotech, according to a . At the same time, advocacy organizations such as Innovate NY backed Cuomo, spending $30,000 to support pro-crypto messaging and oppose Mamdani.

Surveys in the campaign’s closing weeks indicated a close contest, with Mamdani holding a slim advantage. An

cited a Quinnipiac Poll showing Mamdani at 43%, Cuomo at 33%, and Sliwa at 14%, while RealClearPolitics’ average had Mamdani at 45.8%. On Polymarket, prediction markets gave Mamdani a 94% chance of winning. The results highlight that crypto-related policies had limited sway in a city where voters were more concerned with broader social and economic issues.

The mayoral race also reflected wider national patterns in crypto advocacy. In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill prevailed over Republican Jack Ciattarelli, partly due to the turnout of crypto-focused voters; the advocacy group Stand with Crypto pointed out that its 80,000 members nearly equaled the margin of victory in the last gubernatorial election. These trends illustrate the increasing, though still specialized, influence of crypto advocates in urban politics.

As Mamdani gets ready to take office in January 2026, his administration’s approach to digital assets remains to be seen. While Cuomo’s crypto-forward proposals may not come to fruition, the infrastructure established under Adams—including the Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain—could serve as a base for future advancements. The election outcome demonstrates New York’s effort to balance its status as a global financial center with the needs of its diverse population, where cryptocurrency is a lesser priority compared to urgent social and economic issues.