Bitcoin, the most popular digital currency, has been sweeping the globe over the past decade and disrupting the traditional financial sector. Celebrities have also jumped on the Bitcoin bandwagon, as it has become an attractive investment. These celebrities, who are often seen as trend-setters and ahead of the curve have used their influence to promote Bitcoin and its adoption by mainstream society.
Many celebrities have publicly put their money and name behind Bitcoin in the high-risk and high-reward cryptocurrency markets, while others use it to make purchases. Celebrities’ interest in cryptocurrency trading has contributed to Bitcoin’s explosive growth over the past few years. As Bitcoin becomes more mainstream, we need to emphasize the role celebrities played in its rise, whether as investors or advocates.
Mike Tyson is one such celebrity. The renowned boxer, Hollywood star and Hollywood icon has invested heavily in Bitcoin. Tyson, in partnership Bitcoin Direct, has launched what he calls the “world’s first official Mike Tyson Bitcoin Wallet”. The wallet features the Tyson face tattoo as its trademark, and is designed to be a sleek and simple platform for Bitcoin users. On his official website he also sells merchandise priced in bitcoins, which further cements his involvement with digital currency.
Ashton Kutcher, the actor-turned-investor, is also a notable influencer in the Bitcoin space. He founded the venture capital company, A-Grade Investments. This firm has invested in BitPay, a Bitcoin payment gateway. Kutcher expressed in public forums his interest in blockchain technology and made it clear that he is a Bitcoin advocate. Kutcher’s love of digital currencies and blockchain is so strong that he discussed Bitcoin and Ethereum in detail with American TV host Ellen DeGeneres during a television show.
The Winklevoss Twins, who are famous for their legal dispute against Mark Zuckerburg of Facebook, have become important figures in the crypto-world. The twins were among the first public figures who became Bitcoin billionaires. Gemini is a popular cryptocurrency trading platform, which adds security and credibility to the Bitcoin market.
Rap mogul 50 Cent has also drawn attention to Bitcoin for his bet on Bitcoin. In 2014, 50 Cent released an album which could be purchased with Bitcoin. This earned him more than 700 Bitcoins. This investment, which was made years ago, is now worth millions of dollars. It shows the potential that Bitcoin investments have.
J.K. Rowling has expressed interest in Bitcoin. She has frequently engaged in Twitter discussions about Bitcoin and its workings. Although she admits that the concept of cryptocurrency is still difficult to grasp, her public discussions and interest in Bitcoin has brought it into the mainstream spotlight.
Not only celebrities are interested in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Hollywood is also getting involved. The movie “Hard Four” became the first film to be funded by Bitcoin in 2020. It’s still early days for Bitcoin, but it is not difficult to imagine that more films or performances will be funded in this way as Bitcoin becomes more widely recognized.
There’s no doubt that celebrities are increasingly involved in Bitcoin. Whether as users, investors or advocates. Celebrity interest in Bitcoin validates its legitimacy and increases public understanding of cryptocurrencies. It’s only a question of time until Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are a part of the economic landscape. While we continue to pay attention to developments in the emerging digital economy there is no doubt that celebrity influence will play a major role in pushing Bitcoin into the mainstream.