How Athletes Are Fueling Bitcoin’s Push Into The Mainstream

A growing number of professional athletes are becoming vocal advocates of Bitcoin and digital assets. What started as a trickle of interest is becoming a wave, as players from the NBA, NFL, and beyond use their influence and capital to help push decentralized finance into the mainstream.

Athletes and Bitcoin

Cleveland Cavalier Tristan Thompson joined in that conversation during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, hosting over 30,000 attendees. In an interview with Forbes, Thompson reflected on his journey into Bitcoin, his views on the broader crypto ecosystem, and why he sees financial independence as a new form of empowerment for athletes and their communities.

Thompson was first introduced to Bitcoin in 2015, but the concept didn’t immediately resonate. It wasn’t until 2020, when more of his peers began investing and institutional interest started growing, that he began to take a closer look.

Conversations with financial professionals sparked his curiosity, but major firms were still hesitant to enter the space at the time.

As BlackRock and others eventually moved into digital assets, Thompson saw Bitcoin not as a passing trend but as a meaningful shift in how value and ownership could be structured. What ultimately drew him in was not just the market potential but also the philosophy of a decentralized system that gives people greater control over their financial lives.

More Than Bitcoin Maximalism

In a space known for its tribalistic culture, Thompson views digital assets with a more inclusive outlook.

Using a sports analogy, he said, “Bitcoin is like Michael Jordan. Ethereum? That’s LeBron. Then you’ve got Steph Curry, we’ll say he’s Solana. You need all of them to evolve the game,” he said. “It’s a team sport.” Still, when newcomers ask where to start, he points them straight to Bitcoin. “It’s the original. You start there, then educate yourself from there.”

His broader goal of participating in the digital asset ecosystem reflects a mindset gaining traction among athletes. One focused less on short-term speculation and more on building lasting financial independence. That includes helping everyday workers, including those around him in sports arenas, understand how tools like Bitcoin can offer a path to greater control over their financial futures.

Saquon Barkley’s Bitcoin Play

Thompson isn’t the only athlete investing in Bitcoin and digital assets as a path toward building wealth.

NFL running back Saquon Barkley made headlines in 2021 when he announced he would convert all of his endorsement income into Bitcoin using the payment platform Strike.

“We’re seeing inflation and learning you can’t just save yourself to wealth,” Barkley said on Anthony Pompliano’s podcast. “That’s why I’m taking my marketing money in Bitcoin.”

His reasoning echoed Thompson’s focus on long-term value in an unpredictable economic climate. Barkley emphasized that building generational wealth requires more than a player’s salary, especially in high-risk positions where injuries can abruptly alter a career.

After tearing his ACL in 2020, Barkley saw firsthand how fleeting a football career can be. His pivot to Bitcoin was both a hedge and a statement of belief.

Russell Okung’s Bitcoin Vision

Former NFL lineman Russell Okung is widely recognized as the first athlete to receive part of his salary in Bitcoin. In 2019, he famously posted on X, formerly Twitter, “Pay me in Bitcoin.”

Today, Okung sees Bitcoin as a tool to solve deeper societal issues. “The next phase of Bitcoin,” he said, is “about solving real problems.”

That philosophy underscores a shift among the most committed athlete advocates of Bitcoin. It’s no longer just about digital gold or speculative upside. It’s about freedom, infrastructure, and access. Especially in communities historically excluded from legacy financial systems.

Why Athletes Are Uniquely Positioned

What sets athletes apart isn’t just their wealth. It’s their visibility and influence, especially among tech-savvy audiences.

Thompson believes athletes are uniquely positioned to influence public conversations, given their platforms and visibility. Rather than positioning himself as an expert, he sees his role as helping others explore a different way to think about money and financial independence through tools like Bitcoin.

Companies like Coinbase, Strike, and Cash App have used high-profile athlete sponsorships to build credibility and adoption.

Bitcoin remains at the center of many athletes’ strategies. Not just for its scarcity, but for what it represents.

Generational Wealth, Not Flashy Trades

For many professional athletes, Bitcoin serves as a foundation for building financial security.

Thompson sees the space as a chance to promote education and empower others to take control of their financial futures.

Rather than chasing quick profits, he encourages a mindset focused on ownership, resilience, and informed decision-making. He aims to make digital assets more approachable for those who may feel excluded from traditional finance. Whether it’s helping others gain confidence with money or encouraging someone to rethink outdated financial strategies, he hopes to inspire a more self-reliant approach to wealth.

The New Playbook for Financial Freedom

The market has shown renewed momentum, with Bitcoin now trading just under $107,000. But the motivations of these athlete advocates go beyond price. Digital assets can represent a philosophical and practical shift in how wealth is preserved, shared, and grown.

From Tristan Thompson to Saquon Barkley, a generation of athletes is taking a broader role in the financial world. They are not simply promoting digital assets but actively helping shape a future prioritizing openness, resilience, and inclusion. Thompson believes that while investing in Bitcoin may not be for everyone, understanding how money works is essential. In his view, financial literacy is a key step toward personal empowerment.