Athletes and politicians paid in BTC - but what about you and me?

Over the last few years, we’ve seen athletes, politicians, and executives alike taking part of their paycheque in crypto. While this may not necessarily be a revelation for someone to get paid in crypto for their work in the Web3 world, it did mark an important change in the accepted attitudes towards crypto in general.

People took notice and while most folks likely scoffed, some like myself, took time to wonder if it was something I would ever be able to have? I simultaneously had a scary thought of a scenario of being forced to be paid in a digital currency without any other option. The pressing thought of wether it will be something I even have a choice over eventually still persists. Anyway, I guess I don’t have to worry right now because I’m not in an industry or position to negotiate something like that, and even further - would I want it if I had a choice?

These types of deals were starting to get popular across football and basketball players at the start of 2022 with the like of Odell Beckham Jr., Messi, and Andre Iguodala taking a portion of their earnings in the crypto.

Christopher De Beukelaer, a Belgian politician took his entire salary (about $75k USD) for a year as BTC around a similar time. New York’s Mayor, Eric Adams showed his support by converting his first three cheques to crypto as well.

In the months following these announcements the crypto market took a hit and BTC plummeted from $38,000 USD to $17,264 within a years time. We see BTC now today fighting $30k USD and conditions for a potentially significant return on their gamble coming the next bull.

I look at these figures and the market fluctuations and can’t help but doubt that I could survive a huge red day, week, or months on end if part of my salary was paid in crypto. I also consider that those hardest times could be rewarded the most too for those who can make it through. I think about the unexpected cost of having to replace my furnace or repair my car and the money not being there worries me. Am I afraid of my own capacity for financial freedom? Or do the confines of tradfi prevent me from reaching higher potential inherently?

Just as a thought experiment - If you were offered your job you have now and paid 25% of your salary in the crypto of your choosing, would you accept the deal? What would crypto you choose and why?