“I’m still learning every day, and Bitcoin’s going to be around a while.” - Odell Beckham, Jr., NFL wide receiver.
OBJ, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and tennis legend Serena Williams took to the stage at the Bitcoin Conference 2022 in Miami on Thursday. The three superstar athletes discussed their respective journeys with Bitcoin and tech investments in general.
Williams has been investing in tech and crypto companies for nine years. She invested early in Cash App, the sponsor of this panel, and also in the Bitcoin shopping rewards app Lolli. Arguably the best female athlete in history, she is also one of the top Black athletes and entrepreneurs. This unique perspective is one reason she is so bullish on Bitcoin and on platforms like Cash App and Lolli.
She stressed that it is so important for women and for people of color to have accessible opportunities to invest in crypto and stocks. Applications like these crypto companies are leveling the playing field and making it possible for anyone to get started in investing. Williams also applauded the new NCAA program that makes it possible for college athletes to make money from their name, image, and likeness. By earning this money as young adults, she sees the opportunity for many to get started on saving and investing, and crypto is where the money is flowing.
“I love the scarcity of Bitcoin.” - Serena Williams
Aaron Rodgers’ experience with Bitcoin started with a conversation he had with NFL tackle Russell Okung. Okung was one of the first NFL players to request his salary be paid in Bitcoin. Rodgers had no idea what Bitcoin was but was soon orange-pilled by Okung. He is “betting big on crypto,” and wants to get more of his teammates involved. “It’s all over the locker room,” said Rodgers.
Asked by moderator Miles Suter if Rodgers had signed his new contract with the Green Bay Packers yet, the quarterback said, “Um, yeah.” He knew what the next question was. Did it call for him to be paid part of his salary in Bitcoin? No, not yet. And the NFL doesn’t pay players directly in Bitcoin, but rather converts net pay to Bitcoin through an app such as BitPay.
Rodgers summed this up with, “The NFL is always a decade behind, a dinosaur, and Green Bay even further. It’s going to take one big game-changing contract to change this, maybe from a young star like Joe Burrow.”
Beckham stressed that the emergence of social media has changed the landscape for Bitcoin and crypto and that it is drawing more young investors and entrepreneurs into the space. Beckham and Rodgers both feel that we are very early in the crypto space and that it’s very important for young people to get involved, to get their feet wet.
Rodgers: “Maybe you can’t buy a whole Bitcoin, but you can stack some sats.”
More from Bitcoin 2022 Miami:
Andrew Yang, former Presidential candidate, loves math and Bitcoin.
“Mr. Wonderful” Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank fame gave a keynote Wednesday then stuck around to meet the Bitcoiners. Pictured here with Pomp.
Options trader and CNBC panelist Jon Najarian was on hand to moderate a forum on crypto options and derivatives.
Anthony Scaramucci was also on hand. Also with Pomp.
Issue No. 51, April 8, 2022
Rick Mulvey is a CPA, forensic accountant and crypto consultant. He writes about all things Bitcoin, and yells at the Yankees and Giants. He also runs marathons and makes wine, neither professionally.
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