NFL star Odell Beckham Jr.'s decision to receive his salary in Bitcoin has turned out to be a 'masterstroke' after four years. What was once considered a reckless gamble has ultimately returned over double the value.
According to American sports media Clutch Points on the 24th (local time), Beckham signed a one-year contract with LA Rams worth up to $4.25 million. He drew significant attention by deciding to receive his base salary of $750,000 (approximately 1.03 billion won) in Bitcoin. At the time, the Bitcoin price was around $64,000 per coin.
This decision was criticized by financial experts as a 'risky bet'. Indeed, when the cryptocurrency market plummeted the following year, Bitcoin prices fell below $20,000, and the value of Beckham's salary significantly declined.
However, four years later, the market atmosphere has completely changed. With Bitcoin prices reaching an all-time high of $116,000 (approximately 160 million won) per coin, Beckham's $750,000 is estimated to have grown to around $1.47 million (approximately 2.02 billion won).
Beckham recently shared a Bitcoin price chart on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "People doubted, but I believed in my decision" and added a Cash App promotional message saying, "You should also receive your salary in Bitcoin."
While receiving salary in cryptocurrency remains controversial, Beckham's case symbolizes the current trend of digital assets being recognized as a new form of financial portfolio.
