The internet was abuzz with news of NFL player Russell Okung being paid in Bitcoin. The player made this wish pretty clear back in May 2019 that he wanted to be paid with the digital token. His tweet read, ‘Pay me in Bitcoin’ and Okung’s Twitter account was updated recently mentioning, “Paid in Bitcoin.” a frenzy followed this among sports publications, tech publications, and mainstream media outlet as Carolina Panthers tackle Russell Okung then becomes the first NFL player to be paid in bitcoin. An NFL spokesperson denied the headline calling it inaccurate and adding, “his people are converting some of the money into bitcoin after he gets paid in US dollars, just like every other NFL player.” While NFL isn’t paying the 32-year-old Texas native in the world’s biggest cryptocurrency, Okung’s checks are now sent via direct deposit to Zap, a startup that converts traditional paychecks into bitcoin.
Paid in Bitcoin. https://t.co/Ey6oOcmLjA
— russ (@RussellOkung) December 29, 2020
Bitcoins are riding high having crossed the $20,000 mark and trading as high as $28,387 per coin. Okung isn’t the only player looking to get paid in bitcoins as Zap founder Jack Mallers, who is reportedly a friend of Okung, told CoinDesk that unnamed players on both the Yankees and Brooklyn Nets have joined the program.
Do it, now. pic.twitter.com/9eAJxcBxLi
— russ (@RussellOkung) December 29, 2020
[Via: New York Post]
