Bitcoin and sports might not seem like an immediate pairing, but cryptocurrency has been making an impact in a number of ways. Bitcoin sports betting has grown in popularity in recent years as online sports betting facilities, including traditional sportsbooks and dedicated crypto betting sites, provide customers with greater choices in betting markets and payment methods.Â
Sports fans can also pay for merchandise and tickets using Bitcoin, with some franchises embracing the crypto revolution. Another way that crypto has impacted the NFL is by being the payment currency of choice for a number of players, past and present.Â
Russell Okung
On June 6th of this year, Russell Okung announced his retirement having spent the final three years of his career at the Carolina Panthers. He initially requested payment from the Los Angeles Chargers in Bitcoin back in 2019, but he got his wish when he moved to Carolina where they agreed to pay Bitcoin for half of his $13 million salary.Â
This made him the first NFL star to be paid in Bitcoin, but he wasn’t the last.
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers’ New York Jets career might not have got off to the start he would have wanted and he will be hoping to put injuries behind him and return to his Packers form that earned him a whole host of NFL MVP awards.
During his legendary stay with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers agreed to part of his salary being paid in Bitcoin in 2021.Â
Rodgers also committed to donating $1 million in Bitcoin as part of a promotion with partner Cash App.
Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley made the decision to convert all of his endorsement earnings into Bitcoin. While he wasn’t paid directly in crypto, his decision to invest in cryptocurrency was made easier via the Strike app, the same payment app used by Okung.
Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. agreed to a similar deal with Cash App as Aaron Rodgers. This allowed him to receive his NFL salary in Bitcoin and he was also part of the same promotion that saw him put up $1 million for users that signed up.
Tom Brady
Next on our list is another retired NFL star and one of the biggest names in the sport’s history. Tom Brady’s connection to crypto was through his stake in the FTX exchange. He also launched an NFT platform in 2021 as a way to capitalize on that growing market as well.
Trevor Lawrence
The Jacksonville Jaguars scooped Trevor Lawrence as the top NFL draft pick of 2021. The star QB was not short of endorsement deals and one offered by FTX a crypto portfolio app saw him being paid for putting his name to the project in cryptocurrency.
Lawrence never made his crypto earnings public and it remains to be seen how well he weathered the crypto crash of 2022.
Aaron Jones
Another star to sign up for an endorsement deal with FTX was Aaron Jones. After purchasing an equity stake in the deal, the Green Bay Packers running back became another high-profile ambassador for the new exchange.
As well as receiving crypto payments for his part in the company, he also integrated the platform into his charity, A&A All The Way Foundation, which provides support to children in various ways.
Sean Culkin
Most NFL players who have embraced cryptocurrency have only converted a percentage of their earnings or worked out endorsement deals where they would be paid in Bitcoin.
During his time at the Kansas City Chiefs, Sean Culkin converted his entire salary to Bitcoin. He went public with his reason to do this, pointing to the short careers and high risk of injury that many NFL stars face.
