2024

Bitcoin

April

Russell

<p class="is-style-lead">When NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. decided to make a bold statement about his financial future in 2021, he didn’t just catch passes — <a rel="" href="https://crypto.news/nfl-star-odell-beckham-jr-4-5m-salary-bitcoin-btc/">he caught Bitcoin fever</a>.</p> 
<p>Partnering with Square CashApp, OBJ proudly announced he’d take his entire $4.25 million Los Angeles Rams salary for the 2021-2022 season in Bitcoin (<a rel="" href="https://crypto.news/price/bitcoin/">BTC</a>).</p> 
<p>Skeptics scoffed. Bitcoin was trading at a respectable $57,400 in November 2021, and the move seemed like a moonshot. But for Beckham Jr., it was a “new era.” See below.</p> 
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   <p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's a NEW ERA &amp; to kick that off I'm hyped to announce that I'm taking my new salary in bitcoin thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/CashApp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">@CashApp</a>. To ALL MY FANS out there, no matter where u r: THANK YOU! I’m giving back a total of $1M in BTC rn too. Drop your $cashtag w. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OBJBTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">#OBJBTC</a> &amp; follow <a href="https://twitter.com/CashApp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">@CashApp</a> NOW <a rel="nofollow" href="https://t.co/ds1IgZ1zup" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/ds1IgZ1zup</a></p>— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) <a href="https://twitter.com/obj/status/1462836953888534528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">November 22, 2021</a>
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<p> You might also like: <a rel="" href="https://crypto.news/ufc-fighter-bitcoin-btc-wages/"> Top UFC Star to Receive Fight Wages in Bitcoin </a> </p> 
<p>To celebrate both his new crypto-friendly paycheck and his move to the Rams, he promised to give away $1 million in Bitcoin to fans via X (formerly known as Twitter). </p> 
<p>Cue the avalanche of “thank you” tweets from followers thrilled by their newfound digital riches.</p> 
<p>Fast-forward to earlier this month: Beckham Jr. made clear he was happy with his decision.</p> 
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<p>Beckham Jr. wasn’t alone in this cryptocurrency craze. He’s just one athlete on a growing roster of NFL players keen on swapping greenbacks for so-called digital gold.</p> 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="strong-russell-okung-strong"><strong>Russell Okung</strong></h2> 
<p>Before Beckham Jr. was Russell Okung. The offensive tackle got heat in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers by converting half his $13 million salary into Bitcoin. </p> 
<p>Okung’s announcement, “Paid in Bitcoin,” went viral, positioning him as the NFL’s crypto pioneer. Little did he know he’d inspire a tidal wave of blockchain enthusiasm among his gridiron peers.</p> 
<p>NFL executives and financial advisors — even his mother — <a href="https://www.sportico.com/leagues/football/2024/okung-launches-bitcoin-sports-league-salary-gamble-pays-off-1234810682/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reportedly</a> tried to block Okung from taking the crypto plunge. But his insistence paid off. </p> 
<p>Today, he is one of the founders of Bitball, a sports league venture that pays participating athletes in crypto.</p> 
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="sean-culkin">Sean Culkin</h2> 
<p>In 2021, Sean Culkin — a tight end with the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens — became the first NFL player to convert his entire NFL salary into Bitcoin upon joining the Kansas City Chiefs.</p> 
<p>“I fully believe Bitcoin is the future of finance and I wanted to prove that I have real skin in the game,” Culkin said in April 2021.</p> 
<p>He was “not just trying to make a quick buck,” he added. </p> 
<p>In March, he tweeted a shoutout to fellow crypto-bull Okung.</p> 
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   <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s to the crazy ones <a href="https://twitter.com/RussellOkung?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">@RussellOkung</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://t.co/u4Pr687SsW" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/u4Pr687SsW</a></p>— Sean Culkin (@culkin22) <a href="https://twitter.com/culkin22/status/1764683895914824187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">March 4, 2024</a>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="trevor-lawrence">Trevor Lawrence</h2> 
<p>The former No. 1 draft pick signed with Blockfolio, a cryptocurrency portfolio tracking app, in 2021. </p> 
<p>Lawrence, a quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was rumored to have had his signing bonus paid entirely in cryptocurrency.</p> 
<p>However, contrary to reports, that bonus was separate from his $24 million NFL deal. Misreporting led some to speculate that Lawrence lost $15 million due to the subsequent crypto market crash. Recall how the cryptocurrency market’s capitalization declined from $2.9 trillion in November 2021 to $798 billion at the end of 2022. </p> 
<p>In reality, Lawrence’s NFL earnings remained untouched by the blockchain drama at the time. </p> 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="strong-aaron-rodgers-saquon-barkley-and-demario-davis-strong"><strong>Aaron Rodgers, Saquon Barkley and Demario Davis</strong></h2> 
<p>Before he was quarterback for the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers partnered with Cash App in late 2021, choosing to receive part of his NFL salary in Bitcoin. </p> 
<p>That year, Saquon Barkley, the New York Giants running back, announced he’d convert all his off-field income into Bitcoin, citing the importance of long-term wealth preservation. </p> 
<p>An honorable mention goes to Demario Davis — a linebacker with the New Orleans Saints — who reportedly declared that<em> </em>fiat currency is “inherently unfair and corrupted.” </p> 
<p>Ultimately, he did not accept his NFL contract in Bitcoin. But in April this year, Davis expressed interest, calling it “the future of money.” </p> 
<p>See below.</p> 
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   <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Grateful to <a href="https://twitter.com/lipscomb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">@lipscomb</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/BitcoinMagazine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">@BitcoinMagazine</a> for having me come talk all things Bitcoin. Learn why Bitcoin is the future of money. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://t.co/GdwKNJObTU" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/GdwKNJObTU</a></p>— Demario Davis (@demario__davis) <a href="https://twitter.com/demario__davis/status/1780373963631214601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">April 16, 2024</a>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="strong-crypto-s-end-zone-fumbling-or-scoring-big-strong"><strong>Crypto’s end zone: Fumbling or scoring big?</strong></h2> 
<p>While these NFL stars made headlines for their Bitcoin paydays, the timing wasn’t exactly clutch.</p> 
<p>Bitcoin is <a rel="" href="https://crypto.news/bitcoin-etf-inflows-surge-over-160-as-total-inflows-surpass-35b/">enjoying</a> all-time highs now, but recall its sharp nosedive after November 2021. After hitting a then-peak of nearly $69,000, rising interest rates, market over-speculation, and high-profile crypto crises like TerraUSD’s collapse and <a rel="" href="https://crypto.news/year-after-ftx-collapse-what-to-expect-from-sbf-trial/">FTX’s bankruptcy</a> contributed to its downfall. </p> 
<p>By mid-2022, Bitcoin’s value had fallen below $20,000, highlighting the risks of volatile investments, especially for those like NFL stars embracing crypto salaries.</p> 
<p> Read more: <a rel="" href="https://crypto.news/whos-laughing-now-eric-adams-defends-bitcoin-paychecks/"> “Who’s laughing now?”: Eric Adams defends Bitcoin paychecks </a> </p>

Bitcoin blitz: Odell Beckham Jr. and 6 other NFL stars betting big on blockchain

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