As 2021 comes to a close, Bitcoin (BTC) has had a tumultuous ride this year, with wild price swings that have seen the pioneer cryptocurrency hit all-time highs only to retrace to lower prices — including a 50% drop that shook the market. Now, Bitcoin is once again back and stronger than ever, even recently going past its previous all-time high.
Bitcoin’s dizzying market price swings aside, it seems some politicians have recognized Bitcoin’s potential, with a wave of mayors across the United States expressing bullish sentiments.
From Florida to New York, there is a seemingly growing trend of politicians, particularly city mayors, supporting Bitcoin adoption.
Here is a look at some of America’s mayors who have expressed bullish sentiments about the leading cryptocurrency.
New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams
Mayors across the U.S. have been pushing for the adoption of digital assets, including New York City’s newly elected mayor, Eric Adams, who has pledged that he will take his first three paychecks in Bitcoin. The move from Adams was in response to the mayor of Miami’s announcement two days earlier that revealed his plans to accept his next paycheck entirely in Bitcoin.
Adams, a former police officer with a reputation for being tough on crime, said in a tweet that “In New York we always go big, so I’m going to take my first THREE paychecks in Bitcoin.”
Adam further tweeted that “NYC is going to be the center of the cryptocurrency industry and other fast-growing, innovative industries.”
The newly elected mayor also spoke to Bloomberg, saying that he will “look at what’s preventing the growth of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in our city.”
Mayor-elect Adams has been a Bitcoin bull for quite some time, having previously pledged to make New York City the center for Bitcoin. Adams has also suggested that schools add cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to their curriculum.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez
Since his election, Adams has been duking it out with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez over who is the bigger Bitcoin bull. Suarez, who was reelected for another term after serving as Miami’s mayor since 2017, also claimed in a tweet that he would take his next paycheck “100% in Bitcoin.”
As a part of Miami’s plan to become the crypto capital of the U.S., Suarez said that the city plans to issue digital wallets to its citizens that would be used to dole out Bitcoin yields from the city’s crypto stash.
While some reports state that U.S. law prohibits certain states from holding volatile assets, Miami’s mayor remains adamant, claiming that his top priority is to hopefully run the city without taxes. Suarez has previously mentioned that he wants to pay city employees in crypto.
Cool Valley, Missouri Mayor Jayson Stewart
In the small town of Cool Valley, Missouri, Mayor Jayson Stewart announced that he intended to give each resident up to $1,000 in Bitcoin as a response to the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies.
The environmentalist mayor believes that Bitcoin can lift the town’s fortune through the establishment of Bitcoin mining facilities and other related activities. Stewart also believes that Bitcoin education holds the key to increasing wealth and prosperity in the region, and he hopes to one day see a Bitcoin-friendly bank in the city.
In an interview with Cointelegraph Magazine, Stewart said that “A lot of it is about fixing the wrongs of the past financial system. In the past, we didn’t have access to this amazing technology that we have today when it comes to our financial system and storing our value.”
Similar to Miami’s mayor, Stewart plans to dole out Bitcoin to the people of Cool Valley, with a plan that is funded by private donors who aim to increase the use and adoption of the digital asset.
The Missouri mayor has been a Bitcoin bull since as far back as 2015, when he used to work for a tech startup that served wealthy clients and earned a salary in Bitcoin.
Jackson, Tennessee Mayor Scott…
Read More: cointelegraph.com