Francis Suarez's Miami fortune grows 300% thanks to receiving salary in Bitcoin

Get paid in Bitcoin

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, one of the first US politicians to publicly endorse Bitcoin, revealed in a recent interview with Fox Business that his decision to take his entire mayoral salary in Bitcoin in 2021 has paid off significantly — generating a 300% return since then.

“ I got paid when Bitcoin was around $30,000 ,” Suarez said. “ Now it’s up 300%, even 400% at times when it hit $120,000, so I don’t worry about the price going up and down every day. ”

Despite Bitcoin's recent correction below $100,000, Suarez remains firmly optimistic, calling it a long-term hedge against fiat currency erosion and a foundational asset of the digital economy.

MiamiCoin MIAMI Project

Francis Suarez helped launch MiamiCoin (MIAMI), a city-branded token created on the Stacks blockchain. The project was designed to funnel cryptocurrency revenue into city programs. At its peak, the MiamiCoin initiative generated millions of dollars in profits for the city — some of which was distributed as free Bitcoin to Miami residents.

Although MiamiCoin's market value has since plummeted, the program remains an early example of urban tokenization, positioning Miami as a testing ground for urban cryptocurrency integration.

Suarez's Cryptocurrency Philosophy

Suarez has long argued that blockchain, decentralized finance (DeFi) and artificial intelligence (AI) will converge to reshape global markets and government operations.

In his words, “ DeFi, crypto, and AI together will reshape the global financial system — not as competitors to regulation, but as tools for transparency, automation, and accessibility. ”

He envisions blockchain-powered governance models where public spending, procurement and citizen engagement operate transparently on-chain, while AI enhances decision-making and service delivery.

For Suarez, the vision isn’t ideological — it’s economic. He sees blockchain adoption as key to keeping cities like Miami globally competitive, attracting fintech and cryptocurrency startups, and luring talent away from traditional financial centers.

New Revolution

From an economic perspective, Suarez’s experience reinforces a key principle of digital finance: Bitcoin offers long-term confidence and disciplined investing. His personal portfolio now mirrors the performance of institutional funds like MicroStrategy or Metaplanet, both of which have seen their balance sheets grow exponentially thanks to their Bitcoin holdings.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is the author's personal opinion in the cryptocurrency field. It is not intended to be financial or investment advice. Any investment decision should be based on careful consideration of your personal portfolio and risk tolerance. The views expressed in this article do not represent the official position of the platform. We recommend that readers conduct their own research and consult with a professional before making any investment decisions.