He’s a genius!
NFL player Russell Okung becomes one of the highest-paid in the league after requesting that his salary be paid in bitcoin, Blavity reports.
The Carolina Panther offensive tackle has been advocating for people to invest in cryptocurrency for a while now. He often promotes the use of Bitcoin, an uber-popular form of cryptocurrency unregulated by banks or the federal government, where users can buy, sell, and exchange money via digital coins.
In May 2019, Okung requested that his annual salary be paid in Bitcoin, tweeting it afterward. By December 2020, the NFL agreed to pay Okung half of his $13 million contract, approximately $6.5 million, via a BItcoin fund facilitated by Strike, a company that converts USD to cryptocurrency. Okung’s decision was historic, becoming the first NFL player to request cryptocurrency payment.
Paid in Bitcoin. https://t.co/Ey6oOcmLjA
— Okung (@RussellOkung) December 29, 2020
Two months later, Bitcoin skyrocketed in the market, with Okung proudly declaring he wasn’t selling via Twitter. In December, the stock was valued at $27,000 per share. Now, Bitcoin is valued at $61,000 a share, making Okung’s $13M annual salary valued at well over $21 million. The investment in Bitcoin has now made Okung one of the 30 highest-paid players in the NFL.
It’s been an incredible week for Bitcoin thus far and…
advertisementGuess what? I’m not F$%*ING SELLING! pic.twitter.com/rFTojHAPiH
— Okung (@RussellOkung) February 18, 2021
“Money is more than currency; it’s power. The way money is handled from creation to dissemination is part of that power. Getting paid in bitcoin is the first step of opting out of the corrupt, manipulated economy we all inhabit,” said Okung.
The NFL player believes that cryptocurrency will help build generational wealth and change the global economy. He encourages everyone to invest in Bitcoin as the first step to gaining true financial freedom.
Congratulations, Russell!
Photo Courtesy of Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images