Birmingham Legion Star Becomes First USL Player to Get Paid in Bitcoin

Alex Crognale, a center back for the Birmingham Legion has disclosed that 15% of his last month’s salary was paid in bitcoin (BTC). The development made him the first USL professional soccer player to get paid in the leading cryptocurrency.

Crognale revealed in an interview today that the transaction was facilitated by Bitcoin payroll firm Bitwage.

“The Bitwage platform allows me to dollar-cost average into Bitcoin with ease and without transaction fees. I have a percentage of my salary paid in cryptocurrency that is directly deposited into my e-wallet,” Crognale said.

The American soccer player noted that he has been on a Bitcoin buying spree since 2020, and has acquired some amount of the cryptocurrency on different trading platforms such as Coinbase, Binance, and CashApp.

Unlimited Fiat Supply

Narrating why he decided to hold the cryptocurrency, Crognale noted that his background in economics helped him see the implications of the unlimited supply of fiats, especially the U.S. dollar, which has resulted in rising inflation.

Recall that, in a bid to cushion the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the masses, the United States government announced several stimulus packages leading to the massive printing of U.S. dollars.

While the measure was done in good faith, several financial experts have criticized the government’s move, saying it is leading to rising inflation.

Crognale is among those against the government’s COVID-19 relief funds, as he noted that:

“The more stimulus money pumped into the economy, the less the dollars in our pockets are worth. Quantitative easing was necessary to keep our country from falling into a depression, but the long-term impact was understated if mentioned at all.”

Bitcoin Over Fiat

According to the USL player, Bitcoin, which is programmed to have a fixed supply of 21 million coins and the government’s inability to control the currency, will fix the constant devaluation of the people’s savings.

With Bitcoin, Crognale said that people now have the opportunity to store their wealth without being scared that the government may “print away their savings.”

He hopes that people can take advantage of his story and channel their funds into Bitcoin, which he described as “sound money.”

Rising Interest in Bitcoin Among Sportsmen

Athletes are gradually seeing the potential for Bitcoin and even going the extra mile to have their wages paid in Bitcoin.

Back in December, Coinfomania reported that an American National Football League (NFL) star became the first player in the competition to receive his wages in bitcoin, following a $13 million payout for his services in 2020.