Cryptocurrency billionaire Brock Pierce, a longtime supporter and pal of Mayor Adams, is declining a proposal to be returned a $1.1 million donation he made to a pro-Adams tremendous PAC final week — as a result of he desires the incumbent to reverse his resolution to drop out of November’s election.
“He can’t come off the ballot. I want New York City to draft him back. We need him,” Pierce stated, a reference to a deadline that has handed for Adams to get his title off the Nov. 4 poll.
“It’s Adams’ Apple, not some rotten apple.”
The billionaire Bitcoin investor, who’s additionally a giant Trump donor, stated he has spoken straight with the mayor concerning the effort to get him again into the race.
“Mayor Adams deeply appreciates the support he has received from New Yorkers from all walks of life,” Todd Shapiro, a spokesman for the mayor, stated in a press release. “Many New Yorkers have reached out to him after his announcement. Mayor Adams will continue doing what is best for New York City.”
Brock Pierce, CEO of Helios, speaks on the North American Bitcoin Convention. (Joe Raedle/Getty Photos)
Shapiro initially issued a press release that clearly acknowledged the mayor was not working for re-election, however requested {that a} revised model be used as a substitute, saying he wasn’t instantly capable of get approval.
“He jumped ship a long time ago. Brutus,” Pierce stated, accusing Carone of working behind the scenes to assist Cuomo for months. “I blame [Carone] as the principal reason for the elections being what they are right now. Not Cuomo.”
Carone — who has acknowledged being in direct contact with Cuomo weeks earlier than Adams formally dropped his unbiased reelection bid — disregarded Pierce’s broadside, saying repeatedly he has no thought who the billionaire is. “Never heard of him,” Carone stated.
Pierce made the $1,111,111 million donation to EmpowerNYC on Sept. 23, almost doubling the money the pro-Adams tremendous PAC had readily available, data present.
Pierce stated PAC leaders requested him if he wished his a refund after Adams deserted his reelection bid Sunday.
Mayor Eric Adams. (Gardiner Anderson / New York Day by day Information)
“Not asking for it back. Prepared to give more,” Pierce stated in describing what he instructed the PAC. “I believe in the mayor.”
Nonetheless, Pierce acknowledged he didn’t get a dedication from EmpowerNYC that it’ll begin spending on some type of effort to re-recruit Adams.
Abe George, an lawyer who has operated EmpowerNYC, didn’t return a request for remark.
Adams’ resolution to droop his reelection marketing campaign got here after President Trump’s workforce and New York enterprise leaders pressured him for months to drop out to be able to assist clear the sphere towards Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral nominee and favourite to win November’s election. Nonetheless reeling from his federal corruption indictment, alleged closeness to Trump and surrounding controversies, Adams was for months polling on the very again of the pack of the mayoral race earlier than he dropped out.
Cuomo, who can be working as an unbiased in November’s election, may very well be helped by Adams’ exit, as he shares overlap with the mayor’s political base.
Pierce has been mates with Adams for years and even flew Adams, as mayor-elect, on his non-public jet to political schmooze-fest SOMOS in 2021. He beforehand donated $100,000 to a bunch backing Adams’ first run for mayor.
The crypto mogul has hosted fundraisers for the mayor, together with one in late 2024 at his mansion in Puerto Rico. He hosted one other fundraiser for Adams in Las Vegas in Could that coincided with a taxpayer-funded journey the mayor took to Sin Metropolis for a Bitcoin convention.
Pierce additionally appeared with the mayor at Trump’s second inauguration in January.
Initially Revealed: September 30, 2025 at 7:31 AM EDT
