Cryptocurrency has been a gradual rise in influence in many aspects of our society. At first, it was seen as a risky investment opportunity that most did not realize until it was far too late. However, as more people have become aware of the logistical benefits of cryptocurrency and the ease in transactions associated with it, it has been taken much more seriously as a legitimate asset. It has been taken so seriously, in fact, that we are now seeing many top-tier professional athletes request that their million-dollar paychecks be administered through Bitcoin and other cryptos.

The most recent high-profile additions to the crypto scene are Golden State Warriors teammates Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala, who announced that in their new partnership with CashApp, they also would be taking a portion of their salary in Bitcoin as well as to conduct a massive Bitcoin giveaway of $1 million to fans.

The Warriors teammates are not the first athletes to get involved either. For example, 2 months ago Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. announced that he would be accepting his entire $4 million dollar salary as part of his new deal with the team all in Bitcoin. These are no small additions to the crypto game either, as Beckham Jr. is considered one of the best and most popular wide receivers in the NFL.

Other athletes such as Tom Brady and Trevor Lawrence, the number one overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, are finding other ways to get involved with cryptocurrency. Brady and his wife Gisele Bundchen ended up purchasing a stake in the popular crypto firm FTX. Lawrence signed one of his first endorsement deals with a crypto app called Blockfolio, in which he also agreed to have part of his salary paid in crypto.

Cryptocurrency has always been met with controversy, but the fact that so many notable athletes and others are putting massive amounts of money on the line for crypto shows the level of trust that it is built among many.