Incoming New York Mayor Eric Adams believes schools should be preparing students to navigate the world of cryptocurrency and digital assets.

New York Mayor-Elect Eric Adams appears to be doubling down on his pro-crypto stance, asserting that that schools should incorporate cryptocurrency studies into their curricula.

Speaking during a Nov. 7 interview with CNN’s State of the Union, Adams described cryptocurrency as “a new way of paying for goods and services throughout the entire globe,” urging local schools to equip students for “the new way of thinking” brought about by blockchain technology and digital assets.

“We must open our schools to teach the technology, to teach this new way of thinking.”

Adams also anecdotally noted surprisingly low awareness of crypto among his young constituents. “When I talked about blockchain and Bitcoins, young people on the street stopped and asked me, ‘What is that?’” said the 61-year-old Democrat.

He also indicated plans to encourage New York businesses to accept Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies as a form of payment, saying he would “tread carefully” and “get it right.” The mayor-elect added that New York must remain a “centre of innovation, no matter what that innovation is.”

Adams’ comments have been met with mixed reactions from the crypto community on social media.