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Top 5 Celebrities Using Bitcoin Today
We all love a little celebrity juice from time to time. It’s one of those things we have become immersed in in society and sometimes our curiosity is piqued when it comes to certain individuals. Usually the news revolves around some scandal or other, sometimes coverage of a celebration is thrown in. What you rarely hear about is a celebrity endorsing a revolutionary digital currency like bitcoin.
These celebrities deserve some credit for exposing a generation of young people, transfixed on reality TV, but not reality, to a technology with the power to change their futures. Musicians, sporting heroes, comedians and movie stars are banding together to give bitcoin their seal of approval. Hopefully fans will take note and be inspired to follow their examples.
5. Richard Sherman
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was the first major sports personality to start accepting bitcoin for his merchandise. In January 2014 he announced on his Facebook page that his online store would be accepting bitcoin payments.
“For all you techies out there, I’m now accepting Bitcoins at my online store http://store.richardsherman25.com, I hear it’s the currency of the future.”
Sherman’s agent Jamie Fritz commented that decision to accept BTC payments
“was based on supporting the fan-base choices to transact via the latest medium — not unlike PayPal or traditional credit cards.”
This show of solidarity with his supporters within the bitcoin community and overall support of bitcoin has hopefully increased the fan-bases of both Sherman and bitcoin.
4. Mel B
Ex- Spice Girl and guest X- Factor judge, Melanie Brown (Mel B) was the first musician to begin accepting bitcoin for sales on her official website on Dec 25th 2013. Making a point of how bitcoin can unite fans from anywhere around the world, she emphasised the sense of community surrounding bitcoin.
“I love how new technology makes our lives easier, and to me that’s exciting. Bitcoin unites my fans around the world using one currency. They can just pay using bitcoins!”
3. Drew Carey
This actor and comedian took to Twitter on Apr 7th 2013, casually referencing bitcoin in an attempt to pay for breakfast. Without being preachy Carey managed to subtly encourage the adoption of bitcoin as a payment method, as least in the food and drinks industry. Not only that but his use of wit undoubtedly drew attention from hipsters and bit-curious folk alike.
Just tried to buy breakfast w bitcoins. Refused. #whenwilltheworldcatchuptomyhipness?
— Drew Carey (@DrewFromTV) April 7, 2013
2. Akon
Hit recording artist and music producer Akon, recently spoke out in favour of bitcoin at the Milken Global Conference on Apr 30th 2014. As the most recent celebtrity to endorse bitcoin, he said bitcoin was:
“going to change the world from a money transactional standpoint not just for Africa, but for everywhere”.
Akon has a huge following and his support as a notable recording artist promises to serve as an inspiration to others in the field and to fans. Not only that but Akon has highlighted the scope of bitcoin as a global digital currency. Not just for Africa acknowledges digital currency can be used by people from all backgrounds, not just those with money, but those perhaps with very little, and everyone in between.
1. Ashton Kutcher
Topping this list is actor Ashton Kutcher. First thoughts on Ashton Kutcher often revert back to his incredibly dim but hansom character “Michael Kelso” on That 70s Show. The real Kutcher is definitely not just a pretty face. Co-founder A-Grade Investments, investors in Bit-Pay, allowing merchants to accept bitcoin payments, Kutcher has made his mark in the venture capital arena. He has invested in many high profile companies, including Skype, Spotify, Airbnb, Foursquare and Uber to date.
At the TechCrunch Disrupt NY conference on May 1st 2013, he spoke not only about bitcoin, but also about the technology underpinning bitcoin. Seeing the bigger picture of what the bitcoin protocol could potentially achieve he adressed the current concerns surrounding internet security and Big Brother. He placed himself firmly at the top of our list when he said:
“The bigger thing with bitcoin is: what can that decentralised technology really do? […] Imagine if we could decentralise that issue of security, and if we can decentralise security […] The notion that we could civically monitor each other in an anonymous way actually keeps the anonymity of theiInternet, we don’t have to worry about Big Brother and that same infrastructure that built out bitcoin could be used in the security industry for mass good.”
Each of these individuals have contributed to broadening the reach of bitcoin to distinct fan bases. Though bitcoin may be small right now, these stars are not. The exposure these guys can bring to bitcoin may be unparalleled, as they bring it to the attention of the masses, not just the techies out there.
Erm… Richard Branson??