The fighter of the Ultimate Fighting Championship Matheus Nicolau is the latest world-famous athlete to opt to receive his earnings in Bitcoin (BTC), the largest cryptocurrency
The eighth flyweight fighter in the UFC, Nicolau, received his first salary in Bitcoin on Monday through a deal assisted by payroll service Bitwage, according to a joint announcement shared with Cointelegraph.
The Brazilian athlete has chosen to collect his salary in BTC to protect himself from rising inflation. Nicolau said that earning Bitcoin will help ensure the value of his hard work and not worry that his money will be lost.adding:
“I make my money the hard way. I bleed for it. MMA is an intense sport where you put everything you have. While I’m constantly struggling on one side, I feel like I’m constantly losing money on the other. Then I realized: Bitcoin is the solution.”
Along with the Brazilian wrestler, his manager Vinícius Las Casas will also use Bitwage to receive a portion of his salary in BTC. “We are very interested in Bitcoin and we seek to spread the gospel of Bitcoin with this latest agreement,” said Nicolau’s representative, Vinícius Las Casas.
According to the announcement, Nicolau is the first Latin American athlete and the second UFC fighter to be paid in Bitcoin. In January, UFC heavyweight fighter Francis Ngannou announced that he would be taking half of his prize pool from UFC 270 in Bitcoin via Cash App.
We’re thrilled to announce the world’s 1st Latin American athlete and the 2nd @ufc fighter ever to be paid in #bitcoin: @NicolauMatheus.
He is securing his paycheck.
He’s fighting inflation.
Follow his lead: https://t.co/uZw32wkokH pic.twitter.com/6VbtQ3o3zc
— Bitwage (@Bitwage) March 21, 2022
We are delighted to announce the first Latin American athlete in the world and the second @ufc fighter to be paid in bitcoin: @NicolauMatheus. He is securing his salary. He is fighting inflation. Follow his example:
When you start charging in BTC, Nicolau joins the growing list of celebrities, politicians, and athletes who have recently realized the importance of owning Bitcoin.
In January, three-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala announced that a portion of his estimated $2.6 million annual salary would be in BTC. As Cointelegraph previously reported, seven NFL players, including Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Trevor Lawrence, decided to start receiving their entire salary in cryptocurrency or have a portion of their salaries converted to cryptocurrency in 2021.
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Investments in crypto assets are not regulated. They may not be suitable for retail investors and the full amount invested may be lost. The services or products offered are not aimed at or accessible to investors in Spain.