Former NFL player Russell Okung has announced the launch of Bitball, a revolutionary American football league in which players will be paid in Bitcoin.
Okung explained that the creation of this professional league aims to eliminate middlemen and create lasting wealth for athletes, leveraging the power of the most valuable cryptocurrency on the market.
In an interview with Decrypt, Okung revealed that his vision is to transform the sports industry by integrating Bitcoin into the payment system and, in this way, offer athletes and players a unique opportunity to own a completely decentralized and revolutionary asset, which has the potential to appreciate significantly over time. With this, the former professional NFL player referred to the opportunities that Bitcoin offers for Empowering its users and creating generational wealth.
Russell Okung's vision for Bitball
Russell Okung, who made headlines a few years ago when he agreed to receive Bitcoin as part of his $13 million salary, revealed that the new professional league will debut in the stadium Al Nahyan from Abu Dhabi on December 10th. He also reported that it will have 24 professional footballers who will receive their salaries in Bitcoin.
In addition to being an innovation within the sports world, Okung emphasized that Bitcoin payments will help eliminate middlemen, providing athletes with more control over your financial future.
It is worth noting that the idea for Bitball was born after Okung left the NFL and tried to convince its owners of the benefits of using Bitcoin. However, he reveals that he encountered resistance in the acceptance of the leading cryptocurrency, so he decided to create his own league, where his vision could become a reality.
Okung told Decrypt that his goal is to create a sustainable and transparent system that benefits both players and fans and provides players with a more secure and potentially lucrative financial future, accessible to all.
The importance of Bitcoin as decentralized money and a store of value
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that operates independently of any central authority. This feature makes it an attractive option for those seeking financial independence and freedom from traditional banking systems. By paying players in Bitcoin, Okung aims to provide a more transparent and secure financial system that is less susceptible to manipulation.
On the other hand, thanks to its limited supply design and appreciation potential, Bitcoin is considered “digital gold” and has become an attractive store of value. So, by accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment on Bitball, players in the league can benefit from the potential appreciation of the cryptocurrency in the future, accessing a unique opportunity to generate generational wealth. At the time of writing this article, the bitcoin price is around $90.000, with an increase of more than 150% in the last year.
A new paradigm for athlete compensation
Bitcoin and blockchain technology can transform the way athletes and sports organizations generate revenue and engage with their fans.
According to Zóbel's vision According to Okung, the cryptocurrency that reigns on the market presents the opportunity to create a new paradigm in the compensation of athletes and in the interaction with their fans, which is why he is optimistic about the use of this and other cryptocurrencies as a means of payment for athletes. In fact, he believes that in a few years other sports leagues will pay their athletes with digital assets like Bitball and that these assets will become a fundamental part of the sports industry.
Main image taken from Russell Okung's official X account
