Exclusive: Anthony Scaramucci has blunt response to New York's 'socialist' nominee originally appeared on TheStreet .
Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge Capital and New Yorker , pulled no punches in an interview with TheStreet Roundtable . He said that if Democratic nominee Zohran Momdani becomes mayor, "the aura of him will cause flight from the city. It'll cause happy feet, rich people to leave the city."
Scaramucci warned that New York has already lost "a half a million of those people from the state since 2017" and predicted another 150,000 to 200,000 wealthy residents would bolt if Momdani wins.
"The top 1% are paying 70% of the tax load for the entire state," he said. Without them, he argued, the city and state would face "great economic stress."
He also labeled the candidate "an anti‑Semite," questioning why the city's 3.4 million Jewish residents would back him. While acknowledging that Gov. Kathy Hochul "will hand‑check him on some things," Scaramucci insisted the symbolic shift to the hard left would be enough to spook high‑earners.
Scaramucci is a vocal pro-crypto advocate who has consistently championed Bitcoin and digital assets as part of the future financial system. SkyBridge has made significant investments in Bitcoin and crypto-related products, even launching a dedicated Bitcoin fund in 2021.
Scaramucci has also publicly supported regulatory clarity and institutional adoption, arguing that crypto is a long-term asset class poised for mainstream integration.
Why it matters for crypto
New York's status as a global finance hub makes it a magnet for high‑net‑worth crypto investors and trading desks. If that pool of capital decamps to lower‑tax states, liquidity and deal‑making could follow — potentially accelerating the rise of rival crypto centers such as Miami and Austin.
A shrinking tax base could also pressure local regulators to toughen enforcement or raise fees like the BitLicense application cost, adding another headwind for crypto startups.
Scaramucci contrasted Momdani's progressive platform with what he called a "more moderate" turn by Hochul, but said that alone would not stem the outflow. He urged former governor Andrew Cuomo to re‑enter the race, criticizing Cuomo's recent campaign‑style video as out of touch.
"You need to burn shoe leather on the street, five boroughs, talk to everybody," Scaramucci said. "You can't sit in an ivory tower and expect to win an election like that."
With Mayor Eric Adams showing a "negative 34 rating," Scaramucci suggested the field is wide open. Yet he cautioned that unless a centrist can galvanize voters, New York risks doubling down on policies that drive away the very taxpayers who fund its services.
Mamdani's crypto stance raises eyebrows in New York race
Mamdani's primary win in the New York City mayoral race has sparked concern among crypto executives and pro-industry voices . While Mamdani has remained largely silent on crypto policy, his prior support for stricter consumer protections have drawn fire.
Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss called New York a "broken kleptocracy" and warned that "it appears things will have to get worse in NYC before they get better." Crypto and AI policy czar David Sacks also weighed in, calling on Silicon Valley to "wake up" to what he sees as a growing anti-tech movement.
During his campaign, Mamdani criticized former Mayor Andrew Cuomo for advising crypto exchange OKX during an SEC probe, after which OKX pled guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws. His only other notable crypto comments came in 2023 when he backed NY Attorney General Letitia James's call for more consumer protections following the collapse of projects like Terra and FTX.
Exclusive: Anthony Scaramucci has blunt response to New York's 'socialist' nominee first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 16, 2025
This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
