Tristan Thompson is no stranger to the highs of pro sports. The NBA veteran, who once inked a deal worth more than $80 million with the Cavaliers, is now focused on a different kind of play—one that involves crypto and long-term financial freedom.
Thompson made headlines recently during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in May in Las Vegas, where he spoke to a packed room about how digital currency is reshaping athlete compensation. He compared top cryptocurrencies to NBA legends, calling Bitcoin the “Michael Jordan” of the space, Ethereum the “LeBron,” and Solana the “Steph Curry.”
🔥WATCH: NBA star @RealTristan13 believes Bitcoin will reach $1,000,000!@gazza_jenks gets the full story on why he turned down $32B in Bitcoin and calls BTC "the LeBron James of money. pic.twitter.com/a5zABht2xn
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) June 5, 2025
But the message went beyond hype. Thompson, 34, has become one of the most vocal athletes in the crypto education space. He hosts a podcast called Courtside Crypto, partners with blockchain startups, and speaks often about empowering athletes to build lasting wealth. “If I’d gotten my 2015 contract in Bitcoin,” he joked, “I’d be a billionaire by now.”
Other athletes are also leaning into digital pay. UFC’s Matheus Nicolau now receives 100% of his fight purses in Bitcoin. USC linebacker Matai Tagoa’i has decided to take part of his pay in crypto. All of this shows a sea change in the mindset of athletes in how they want to take charge of their financial future.
Day 2 @TheBitcoinConf ✌️ pic.twitter.com/Kn8tmejxar
— Tristan Thompson (@RealTristan13) May 28, 2025
It’s not just theory either. When Odell Beckham Jr. accepted his Rams salary in Bitcoin back in 2021, the price hovered around $64,000. Now, with Bitcoin closer to $104,000, that decision, if he held, paid off. Saquon Barkley, too, has converted endorsement money into crypto and seen major gains.
For Thompson, this isn’t about flashy cars or viral endorsements. “It’s not about buying Lambos,” he said. “It’s about buying freedom.”
With tools like Bitcoin price in real time, athletes are tracking their crypto income as closely as their game stats. And with more names entering the space, crypto isn’t just part of the future—it’s helping shape it.
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