Celebrities Who Embraced Crypto

And Those Who Didn’t

On February 6th, the CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, answering the question of what crypto he holds said that he only has bitcoin. It was no secret that Dorsey is a huge bitcoin believer, as he has repeatedly stated it himself. He also took part in the Bitcoin Lightning Network game, that suggested that participants pass each other a very small amount of BTC around the Lightning Network, adding 10 satoshi to each next transaction and therefore the “trust chain” gets longer and longer. Judging by his comments on Twitter, Jack Dorsey did enjoy this experiment, and the whole situation made us think. Can those public figures, who are not necessarily associated with crypto, help with mass adoption?

While some of the rich and famous traditionally go on with advertising luxury brands, there are quite a few of those who have set their eyes on the crypto industry. It doesn’t really matter what reasons they have behind this, in general, it is still rather beneficial when people get curious and start talking about and exploring the subjects of cryptocurrency and blockchain. If a popular artist encourages his fans to use bitcoins to purchase his new album, chances are that people will consider looking into it. Or when a talented and admittedly intelligent actor donates millions in crypto for charitable causes during a live TV-show, it definitely attracts everyone’s attention and sets a good example. Little do we know, it might be one of the turning points on the way to mass adoption.

But let’s drop some names now.

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher, famous not only for his movies, but also tech investments (including BitPay), eloquently donated $4 million worth of Ripple to Ellen Degeneres’ Wildlife fund live on her show. The funds were transferred immediately, showing viewers the possibilities that Ripple payments can offer. Later on, on Twitter, the actor announced that his VC fund is working together with Ripple:

“Proud of #SoundVentures’ work with @Ripple to support critical causes around the world. #RippleforGood!”

A perfect example of how technology can contribute to making the world a little better.

Lionel Messi

Back in 2017 one of the most beloved football players nowadays, Lionel Messi, surprised his fans by becoming a brand ambassador for Sirin Labs. The company produces blockchain-enabled and extremely secure smartphones called Finney with a cold storage crypto wallet included. On one of his social media pages, Messi was very positive about this partnership and wrote:

“I am usually busy trying to decentralize defenses and after digging deeper into Blockchain and decentralized systems, I’m excited to join SIRIN LABS as an ambassador to make blockchain more friendly with their upcoming operating system for smartphones!”

Floyd Mayweather

Another famous sports figure had a slightly different experience promoting crypto. Floyd Mayweather, a former professional boxer, was recently fined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. He took part in several ICOs, also encouraging his Twitter followers to invest in those crypto projects. However, the former boxer failed to disclose payments from these ICOs and he had to pay a certain price for that. On top of that, he won’t be able to promote any kinds of assets during the next three years.

50 Cent

At the start of 2018, the news about 50 Cent, a well-known rapper, becoming a Bitcoin millionaire made quite a splash. 50 Cent claimed that he made $8 million by accepting Bitcoin payments for one of his albums back in 2014. Allegedly, he managed to get 700 BTC and when the currency price skyrocketed, the overall amount in USD was quite impressive. But things changed when 50 Cent filed for bankruptcy and had to prove it. The rapper then suddenly changed his tune and said the he had never owned a single Bitcoin as the crypto payments had been immediately converted into fiat.

Snoop Dog

Apparently, Snoop Dog might be one of the earliest adopters. It was 2013 when he ironically Tweeted the following:

“My next record available in bitcoin n delivered in a drone.”

Funny enough, Coinbase and BitPay reacted immediately, eager to help him to “make it happen.”

The rapper is reported to have been noticed at different crypto events, including Ripple’s Blockchain Week NYC party. He seems to be rather involved in the industry, occasionally promoting some crypto projects.

Madonna

Another Ripple supporter, Madonna, is using cryptocurrencies for a better cause. She partnered with Ripple in order to collect donations in XPR for a charity cause that’s helping orphaned children in Malawi. The superstar announced it on her Facebook page, saying:

“Every dollar raised will go directly to meals, schools, uniforms, and healthcare. I want to come together with my friends, fans, and supporters to change the lives of Malawian children and let them know they are nurtured, protected, and loved. Through their generous commitment to this organization, Ripple will match each dollar donated to this campaign.”

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