Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who made headlines in 2021 for being the first American politician to take his official salary in cryptocurrency, hinted that digital assets could make a grand return during a recent discussion on artificial intelligence at the eMerge Americas 2023 conference in Miami. Speaking with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Suarez also joked about being in New Hampshire for undisclosed reasons, leading Schmidt to speculate that the mayor may be considering a run for office in the state.
Mayor Suarez wants Miami to be a crypto hub
Suarez, who is a Republican and leads the U.S. Conference of Mayors, has been a vocal proponent of positioning Miami as a new center for technology, finance, and cryptocurrency. Despite the recent decline in Bitcoin’s value, Suarez has remained optimistic about the sector and believes that the current “crypto winter” will eventually come to an end.
During the discussion with Schmidt, the Miami Mayor noted that the resurgence of artificial intelligence is a positive sign for the future of cryptocurrency. He believes that the thawing out of the AI winter will lead to the emergence of new use cases for the technology.
Schmidt, who served as CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011, recalled a similar period of AI winter in the past. However, he also noted that there has been a recent explosion of new AI techniques and advancements that have led to computers becoming better at tasks like vision and gaming than humans.
The discussion with Schmidt also revealed that the Miami Mayor has broader political ambitions. Although he did not confirm whether or not he is planning to run for president, he indicated that he has been considering his options. Given his outspoken support for cryptocurrency and his efforts to position Miami as a hub for tech and finance, it is possible that he could use these issues as a platform in a future campaign.
The Miami mayor has been vocal about crypto since 2021
Suarez’s leadership on cryptocurrency and technology issues has already garnered national attention. He has been an advocate for blockchain technology and has pushed for Miami to become a “bitcoin-friendly” city. In addition to accepting his salary in cryptocurrency, he has also proposed allowing residents to pay taxes and fees in Bitcoin.
Suarez’s efforts to promote Miami as a tech and finance hub have also been successful so far. The city has attracted a growing number of technology companies and startups, including major players like Microsoft and SoftBank. Suarez has also worked to position Miami as a destination for venture capital investment, highlighting the city’s diverse economy and its growing talent pool.
The Miami Mayor’s comments at the eMerge Americas 2023 conference suggest that he may have his sights set on higher political office, potentially even a run for the presidency. Regardless of his plans, it is clear that he is committed to promoting the growth of technology and cryptocurrency in Miami and beyond. His leadership on these issues has already brought significant attention and investment to the city, and he will likely continue to be a major force in shaping the future of tech and finance in the United States.
