New York DFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris to Step Down After Pioneering Crypto Oversight

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the departure of Adrienne Harris as Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services, marking the end of a transformative four-year tenure. Harris, appointed in 2021, elevated DFS into a global standard-setter for digital asset regulation while recovering $725 million in consumer restitution.

Under Harris's leadership, DFS built one of the world's largest VIRTUAL currency supervision teams and implemented groundbreaking guardrails for AI in insurance. The agency gained its first seat on the Financial Stability Oversight Council during her term, amplifying New York's influence in federal policy debates.

Kaitlin Asrow, current Executive Deputy Superintendent of Research & Innovation, will assume the acting role on October 18, 2025. A former Federal Reserve policy advisor, Asrow has spearheaded DFS's fintech and cryptocurrency regulatory initiatives, overseeing the licensing framework for major industry participants.