Top Celebrities In Crypto
What is it about celebrities that keep us so fascinated? When you stop to think about it, celebrities are just normal people like you and me, except far richer and better looking.
One interesting aspect about these celebs is the fact that they are extremely influential. Over the last couple of years, celebrities who invested in crypto have played a significant role in bringing digital assets into the mainstream.
In fact, there is an argument to be made that celebrities have helped cryptocurrencies become more legitimized — getting rid of the stigma that digital assets shouldn’t be taken seriously.
Famous Crypto Investors
There are a handful of celebrities who are far more into crypto than you’d think. For instance, Paris Hilton of all people was one of the first major advocates for cryptocurrencies back in the day. She first bought crypto in 2016 and has since backed projects and NFTs lines.
Gwyneth Paltrow — this century’s first ‘Mary Jane’, has also been a long advocate for crypto. She invests in Ethereum and Apecoin, and throughout the years supported blockchain startups like Abra and Terawulf.
Reese Witherspoon is also a long-time advocate of digital assets. She first started investing in Ethereum in 2021, and since then has expressed her interest in crypto technology. More like Reese WithherCrypto, eh? (I apologize).
Kanye West, or Ye, is also one of the celebrities who have shown interest in crypto. During a 2020 interview in the podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience”, Ye praised the decentralized nature of crypto, and its potential to challenge traditional financial systems.
Matt Damon, Serena Williams, Jamie Foxx, Tom Brady, Akon, and many other celebrities have also publicly praised digital assets in the past.
Celebrity Bitcoin Investments
“Iron” Mike Tyson is one of the first stars that got into crypto. Tyson’s relationship with Bitcoin goes way back to 2013 when he first got in touch with the world’s largest digital asset. Since then, the former heavyweight champ has been a crypto supporter, collaborating with companies like BitPay to push more Bitcoin adoption.
Also, Rapper 50 Cent was one of the first notable figures in the world to provide real utility to Bitcoin. He was one of the first to accept BTC payment for a widespread product: his 2014 album “Animal Ambition”. Fun fact, the rapper forgot about his BTC earnings at the time, and would only realize that he had achieved significant yields off of his bitcoins several years later.
Ashton Kutcher, our very own Michael Kelso, has been a Bitcoin advocate since 2013. He has since invested in blockchain startups, including today’s well-known “Opensea”.
Celebrities Who Own Bitcoin
- Elon Musk
- Snoop Dogg
- Paris Hilton
- Mike Tyson
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- 50 Cent
- Jack Dorsey
- Maisie Williams
- Serena Williams
- Tom Brady
Sports Stars Investing In Crypto
- Russell Okung: the former NFL player, made headlines in 2020 when he converted half of his $13 million salary into Bitcoin. His famous tweet, “Pay me in Bitcoin,” became a rallying cry for crypto enthusiasts.
- Naomi Osaka: The four-time Grand Slam tennis champion, has invested in cryptocurrencies and partnered with FTX before its collapse. She cited her curiosity about blockchain technology as a driving factor.
- Serena Williams: Through her venture capital firm Serena Ventures, Williams has invested in Coinbase, showcasing her belief in the potential of blockchain to revolutionize finance.
- Lionel Messi: The football received part of his signing bonus with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in $PSG Fan Tokens, a cryptocurrency that allows fans to engage with the club.
- Odell Beckham Jr.: The NFL wide receiver announced in 2021 that he would take his salary from the Los Angeles Rams in Bitcoin, partnering with Cash App to facilitate the transaction.
- Trevor Lawrence: the NFL’s 2021 first-overall draft pick, signed an endorsement deal with Blockfolio, receiving his signing bonus in cryptocurrency.
Which Celebrities Support Crypto
- Elon Musk: Bitcoin, Dogecoin advocate.
- Snoop Dogg: Bitcoin, NFTs, Ethereum supporter.
- Paris Hilton: Early adopter, Ethereum, NFTs.
- Lionel Messi: Paid in fan tokens, and partnerships.
- Naomi Osaka: Investments, partnerships pre-FTX.
- Matt Damon: Crypto.com campaign face.
- Akon: Created Akoin for Africa’s development.
- Maisie Williams: Bitcoin advocate.
- Serena Williams: Coinbase investor.
- Lindsay Lohan: NFT launches.
Hollywood Stars In Crypto
Hollywood has a unique way of embracing innovation, and cryptocurrency is no exception. Some actors and filmmakers have gone beyond just investing—they are actively shaping crypto conversations and exploring its potential in entertainment.
Hollywood certainly has a touch for embracing innovation, and cryptocurrencies are no exception. Some actors and filmmakers have gone beyond just investing and owning cryptocurrency assets — but taken the steps to present the new technology for the broader public.
Lindsay Lohan, for instance, is one of the early adopters of blockchain technology in Hollywood. She has launched multiple NFT collections, including personalized artworks, on platforms like Ethereum.
Jamie Foxx, known for ‘Django Unchained’ and the movie-biography of Ray Charles, took a bold step into crypto by endorsing blockchain projects. His involvement with Cobinhood, a crypto exchange, brought attention to the space, although the project later faced challenges.
Matt Damon was one of the first A-list celebrities to endorse crypto. He became well-known for taking part in the “Fortune Favors the Brave” marketing campaign for the cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com.
Akon took his crypto advocacy a step further. In 2018, the musician and actor launched “Akoin”, a cryptocurrency designed to support business in Africa — showcasing how crypto can be more than just an investment tool, but rather a powerful vehicle for economic empowerment and social impact.
Crypto Celebrity Endorsements
Celebrity endorsements for crypto projects have been the topic of a lot of backlash in recent times. Generally speaking, the relationship between a cryptocurrency firm and a celebrity paid to advertise the product is just that — a purely professional relationship.
That hasn’t stopped people from criticizing stars for endorsing dubious or less-reputable projects. Notably, the celebrities presented in FTX’s advertisements were heavily criticized once the cryptocurrency exchange went crashing down, along with its customer funds.
Brazilian supermodel Giselle Bundchën and her then-husband Tom Brady were at the time some of the stars who promoted FTX. Alongside them, Stephen Curry, Larry David, Shaquille O’Neal, and Trevor Lawrence all were heavily criticized for backing Sam Bankman-Fried’s failed exchange.
Socialite Kim Kardashian’s endorsement of a cryptocurrency project ended up costing her quite a bit of cash. At the time, in June 2021, Kardashian promoted EthereumMax (EMAX) on her Instagram account to her 225 million followers. She failed to disclose that she was paid $250,000 for the post, which included a link to the EthereumMax website with instructions for purchasing EMAX tokens. The Securities and Exchange Commission ended up fining her for $1.26 million … ouch.
Elon Musk Crypto Investments
Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire, entrepreneur, Twitter CEO, and a guy who is oddly fond of chainsaws, is arguably the biggest cryptocurrency endorser in the space.
His relationship with the memecoin Dogecoin awarded him the nickname of “Dogefather”, which is a really cool title to have. And throughout the years, Musk’s endorsement of Dogecoin has been responsible for billions of dollars traded in the DOGE market.
Given the amount of money he has—which is a lot—his cryptocurrency advocacy holds even more weight than other “normal” celebrities. After all, he is not only rich but also controls some of the most notable companies in the world. In a sense, many in the market consider Musk to have the power to give digital assets more validity and utility.
However, he is far from being just a memecoin endorser. His electric car vehicle producer “Tesla” holds the fourth largest Bitcoin holdings in the world, among publicly traded companies. In total, Tesla owns close to $1 billion in Bitcoin, or 11,509 BTC.
Celebs In Web3 And Blockchain
Celebrities have dived into the world of Web3 and blockchain, exploring innovative ways to harness the technology beyond traditional investments:
- Akon: Through Akon and his Akon City project, Akon has integrated blockchain into economic and social systems, showcasing its potential for sustainable development.
- Snoop Dogg: Snoop has become a key figure in blockchain ecosystems, partnering with projects like The Sandbox to explore decentralized entertainment.
- Lionel Messi: In addition to fan tokens, Messi has collaborated with blockchain-based platforms to enhance fan engagement through unique experiences and interactions.
- Serena Williams: With investments in blockchain startups, Serena has used her platform to advocate for Web3’s potential to disrupt traditional industries.
- Tom Brady: Co-founding Autograph, a blockchain platform, Brady has expanded into Web3 initiatives, connecting fans with their favorite sports and entertainment icons.
- Gwyneth Paltrow: She has supported blockchain startups focused on finance and renewable energy, aligning Web3 with broader causes.
These celebrities are using blockchain for more than just financial gain—they’re leveraging it to redefine industries, connect with communities, and explore revolutionary applications in the decentralized space.
Crypto Investments By Famous People
Elon Musk: His company “Tesla” purchased a whopping $1.5 billion in Bitcoin in 2021, driving the firm into one of the largest BTC holders in the world.
Michael Saylor: Co-founder and executive chairman of Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, has pretty much ignited the trend of institutional investment in Bitcoin. Today, Strategy owns over $40 billion in Bitcoin, by far the largest entity holding the asset.
Ricardo Salinas Pliego: The Mexican billionaire started investing in Bitcoin in 2013 when it was priced at just $200 per coin. Today, 70% of his portfolio is in Bitcoin, which he advocates as a solution to hyperinflation in Latin America.
Tim Draper: In 2014, Draper purchased 30,000 Bitcoin during a U.S. government auction of seized Silk Road assets. At the time, Bitcoin was priced at around $600, making this investment worth billions today.
Winklevoss Twins: Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss famously invested $11 million in Bitcoin in 2013 when it was priced at about $120 per coin. They became crypto billionaires and founded Gemini, one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges.
Chamath Palihapitiya: The venture capitalist and former Facebook executive invested heavily in Bitcoin in 2012, reportedly owning millions worth of BTC.
Barry Silbert: As the founder of Digital Currency Group, Silbert was an early Bitcoin adopter. His company has invested in blockchain startups and owns Grayscale, a major cryptocurrency asset management firm.
Mark Cuban: The billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks and Shark Tank host invested millions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins. He has also integrated crypto into his business, allowing Mavericks fans to purchase merchandise and tickets with Dogecoin. Cuban has described Bitcoin as a store of value and Ethereum as having more potential due to smart contracts.
Jack Dorsey: The former Twitter CEO and Block (formerly Square) founder has allocated $220 million of his company’s funds to Bitcoin. Dorsey promotes Bitcoin as the future of decentralized currency and integrates it into Block’s payment systems.
Celebrities Launching NFTs
Several celebrities have dipped their toes into the NFT trend, some would argue that maybe more than just a toe, but rather the entire foot… and then some, but that’s a topic for another conversation.
However, many have embraced the unique technology of the NFTs to launch exclusive lines. For instance, Snoop Dogg launched the popular “The Doggies” line, a collection of 10,000 unique avatars playable in The Sandbox metaverse.
Award-winning actor Anthony Hopkins released “The Eternal” NFT collection, a wide range of NFT archetypes portraying the iconic characters Hopkins portrayed during his illustrious career.
Shawn Mendes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Grimes, Neymar, and Paris Hilton are only some of the celebrities who launched their unique NFT lines.
Music Artists In Cryptocurrency
In March of 2021, rock band Kings of Leon became the first band to release an album as an NFT with their project “When You See Yourself”. Taking a page out of Akon’s book, other artists have launched their own cryptocurrencies, like Lil Yachty’s $YACHTY, and Ja Rule with his own fan token.
Actors And Crypto Investments
Maisie Williams, known for portraying Arya Stark on Game of Thrones is only one of the many Bitcoin advocates among the acting community. Orlando Bloom has also reportedly invested in digital assets, while superstar Will Smith is actively investing in the sector via his venture capital firm Dreamers VC.
Crypto Influencers In Hollywood
Social media influencers also make up a large portion of crypto advocates. BitBoy, a crypto YouTuber and influencer, is actively analyzing the state of the market, offering insights and predictions to his vast audience.
CryptoWendyO, a former healthcare professional turned blockchain enthusiast, has become a prominent figure in the space. She uses her platform to share trading strategies and simplify complex cryptocurrency concepts, making the ecosystem more inclusive and accessible.
Layah Heilpern, an author and crypto advocate, often speaks about Bitcoin’s potential as a tool for financial independence. Her content focuses on educating her followers about the importance of self-sovereignty and long-term investment in digital assets.
Finally, Carl Runefelt, better known as “The Moon,” provides regular market analysis and technical insights. Through his enthusiastic content, he engages a dedicated community, encouraging participation in blockchain projects and fostering curiosity about the crypto market.
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