- Luana Pinheiro will become the first female UFC fighter to be paid in bitcoin through a partnership with Bitwage.
- She has joined her boyfriend Matheus Nicolau, who adopted a Bitcoin Standard in March via Bitwage.
- Bitwage is a bitcoin payroll service that enables anybody to convert their wage without the need for employer approval.
Luana Pinheiro is a Brazilian athlete and the current UFC Strawweight Champion. She has a professional record of 12-0 and is widely considered to be one of the best pound-for-pound female fighters in the world.
The partnership between Pinheiro and Bitwage will see the fighter receive her salary in bitcoin, which she can then either hold or convert into Brazilian reais. The arrangement will give Pinheiro more control over her finances and could set a precedent for other athletes to follow suit.
Bitwage co-founder and CEO Jonathan Chester said that the partnership with Pinheiro is a sign that bitcoin is becoming increasingly mainstream.
“It’s a big deal because it shows that even professional athletes who are used to being paid in fiat currency are now starting to see the advantages of getting paid in bitcoin,” Chester said.
The athlete has joined her boyfriend Matheus Nicolau, who adopted a Bitcoin Standard in March via Bitwage. Nicolau is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He has a professional record of 11-1-1. Thus, both fighters have adopted a Bitcoin Standard and also noted a low-time preference as it relates to training and explained how that transcends into their financial well-being and patience.
Bitwage is a bitcoin payroll service that enables anybody to convert their wage into bitcoin without the need for employer approval. The service is available in over 190 countries and offers a number of features such as same-day payments, multi-currency support, and escrow services.
“We’re honored to have Luana as our first female UFC fighter to be paid in bitcoin and excited to help her with her financial needs as she continues to grow her career.” The CEO also mentioned.
