NYC Comptroller Rejects Mayor’s Bitcoin-Backed Bond Plan Over Fiscal and Legal Risks

New York City’s Comptroller, Brad Lander, has rejected Mayor Eric Adams’ initiative to launch municipal bonds backed by Bitcoin, labeling the plan fiscally irresponsible and legally uncertain. The proposal, introduced at the Bitcoin 2025 conference as ’Bitbond,’ aimed to fund city infrastructure, affordable housing, and schools with a 10-year bond offering a 1% annual yield and potential gains from Bitcoin price appreciation. Policy documents outlined that 90% of funds raised would go to government spending, while 10% would build Bitcoin reserves. Lander argued that the volatility of cryptocurrency, especially Bitcoin, makes it unsuitable for financing essential public projects. He also highlighted that using such debt instruments could undermine investor confidence in New York City’s bond market and potentially violate federal tax laws. Current rules restrict municipal borrowing to direct funding of capital assets, leaving little room for alternative uses like crypto reserves. This strong regulatory resistance in the U.S. stands in contrast with recent international experiments in crypto-backed municipal finance, reinforcing the challenges crypto assets face in gaining mainstream acceptance within traditional finance sectors.