The mayor of Miami, Francis Suarez, said he is “up 300%” on the portion of his salary he received in Bitcoin (BTC), even as the cryptocurrency slips below the six-figure mark amid broader market turbulence.
He made the remarks during a recent interview with Fox Business, emphasising that short-term price swings do not bother him.
Suarez, who decided in late 2021 to accept at least part of his mayoral salary in Bitcoin, told Fox Business he was paid when the price stood near $30,000. He said that figure has boosted his gains to about 300%, and at a point when Bitcoin hit close to $120,000 earlier this year, the gain had approached 400%.
He further stated that despite Bitcoin trading below $100,000 this week, he is not bothered by the price fluctuations since he is interested in the bigger picture of crypto as a store of value.
Why Suarez’s BTC gains matter now
Bitcoin recently slid below $100,000 amid profit-taking, macroeconomic headwinds and exchange-traded fund (ETF) outflows. For example, on early November 4, 2025, prices dropped below the $104,000 mark as investors booked gains.
By some measures, Bitcoin has fallen over 18% from its all-time high earlier in October. Traders are now closely watching whether key support levels around $94,000 will hold.
Suarez’s stance gains attention because of his dual role: championing Miami as a pro-crypto hub while personally embracing Bitcoin as compensation. His belief in crypto’s potential to serve as “a money creation system known through the code” reflects a broader shift in how digital assets are viewed.
The decision, the risk, and the context
When Suarez announced in November 2021 that he would receive his next paycheck entirely in Bitcoin, he became one of the first U.S. politicians to take such a step. At that time the regulatory and tax frameworks around cryptocurrencies were far less defined, which made his decision notably bold.
Over time, Miami under Suarez has actively positioned itself as a centre for crypto and tech investment, promoting business-friendly policies and offering incentives to blockchain firms.
The risk, of course, remains real, accepting pay in a highly volatile asset exposes one to sudden downward swings. While Suarez emphasises the long-term logic of Bitcoin, many investors remain cautious about crypto’s short-term trajectory given macro uncertainty.
Suarez’s vision for the future
For Suarez, the story is less about day-to-day price movements and more about a mindset shift from cash-only paychecks to digital-asset compensation and from traditional finance to decentralized finance (DeFi) plus artificial intelligence.
In the same interview, he stated that he is “more concerned with the macro impact” of crypto and its integration into city operations, like paying city employees in Bitcoin or allowing residents to settle fees in crypto.
From a market perspective, Bitcoin’s near-term outlook remains uncertain. Analysts flag that breaking below support levels could trigger a deeper slide toward $90,000 or even $80,000. But long-term, many remain bullish on the digital asset’s role as a new store of value and inflation hedge, a theme Suarez has embraced.
Why this story resonates globally
Suarez’s case is significant because it blends personal conviction, local government policy, and broader crypto-market dynamics. His story provides a lens on how political figures are engaging with digital assets, how municipalities are experimenting, and how individual compensation choices become market signals. It also highlights the point that, although crypto may present disproportionate returns to early adopters, it also presents.
The fact that Miami Mayor Francis Suarez says he is 300% above his Bitcoin paycheck might make headlines, but the more significant story is the politics, technology, and finance. His personal narrative is an experiment and statement as Bitcoin is trading in a volatile range.
Whether his long-term gamble pays off or whether the market’s next move erodes those gains remains to be seen. Either way, his decision reinforces how crypto is no longer just fringe, but a subject of mainstream policy and compensation strategy.
Also Read: Cynthia Lummis Backs Crypto Bill and National Bitcoin Reserve
