The extensive crypto ecosystem has been home to a number of top-tier celebrities over the years, fueled primarily by the hype of the 2021 NFT (Non-fungible Token). Despite the ongoing bear market and the apparent drop in cryptocurrency prices, celebrities continue to support the cryptocurrency market.
Over the past year, celebrities have begun to explore sub-ecosystems outside of NFTs as they seek to diversify their footprint into commerce, gaming and other avenues of investment. In light of that, here’s a look at some of the most influential celebrities who have taken to cryptocurrency over the past year and how well they are preparing for the next bull run.
Conor McGregor Partnership with Tiger.Trade
UFC star Conor McGregor, one of the highest paid athletes, recently partnered with Tiger.Trade, a cryptocurrency trading app. Part of the deal is McGregor’s participation in an indoor game that users can play to win exclusive prizes.
who wants to play?!!! The only rule is to play #SmarterNotHarder with Conor McGregor in the game! Are you ready to win with tiger_trade? https://t.co/FlJX5prxHf pic.twitter.com/9ZCrRizxWC
– Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 12, 2022
Before McGregor became an ambassador for Tiger.Trade, McGregor’s involvement in cryptocurrency was indirect through the UFC’s partnership with Crypto.com, where the fighters received rewards in cryptocurrency.
The game’s recent launch, though fans have lauded its graphics and premieres, has been criticized for its lack of story. Unlike most of the top UFC fighters, McGregor has not pinned his name on the now defunct NFT projects and continues to maintain his choice of investing in cryptocurrency.
Eminem bought Bored Ape NFT for $460,000
Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem, is one of the few celebrities who make headlines investing in NFTs rather than trying to sell their collections. The fifteen-time Grammy winner bought the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) EminApe NFT for $460,000, which features a gold chain and khaki military hat that Eminem would wear in real life.
Eminem’s association with cryptocurrency dates back to 2018, when the rapper mentioned Bitcoin on his recently released album Kamikaze. However, the subsequent purchase of NFT sparked his interest in crypto investments. In June 2022, Eminem released a BAYC NFT-titled BAYC NFT music video featuring rap legend and crypto enthusiast Snoop Dogg.
Although Eminem has not publicly shared a penchant for any particular crypto asset to invest, the rapper continues to partner with BAYC for live performances.
Maria Sharapova becomes a strategic investor in Moonpay
Tennis legend Maria Sharapova along with other celebrities like Gal Gadot, Bruce Willis and Justin Beiber have invested in MoonPay’s crypto payment solution. The company said that more than 60 public figures and celebrities in music, sports, media and entertainment have come together to invest $87 million in Series A funding as of November 2021.
With the help of our new strategic investors. pic.twitter.com/sfeH1Hhibh
– MoonPay (@moonpay) Apr 13, 2022
The investment marked Sharapova’s entry into the crypto world. However, the star has not yet revealed his plans to invest in crypto assets.
Snoop Dogg: The face of Web3 and NFT
Snoop Dogg’s position as an OG remains valid in the crypto world, due to his active involvement in the field over the years. Snoop’s first interaction with the crypto community began when he warned of counterfeit tokens selling Snoop Dogg-branded NFT tokens.
Having gained industry knowledge, the rapper has partnered with a number of crypto ventures including cryptocurrency exchanges, Web3, games, and NFTs, effectively spurring mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies.
Announcing New Food Fighters UniverseSnoopDogg Team Member AKA Dr.Bombay pic.twitter.com/itZqpG3neQ
– World of Food Fighters | By Now (FoodFightersU) Jun 3, 2022
Recently, Snoop Dogg announced the opening of a new restaurant inspired by BAYC NFT in Los Angeles called Bored and Hungry. Although the NFT noise has faded, the Smoke King continues to show his love for the ecosystem.
Floyd Mayweather returns to crypto
Legendary boxing champion Floyd Mayweather celebrated his foray into the crypto world in 2018 by promoting a high-profile crypto scam called Centra Tech. The legal implications of promoting unsupervised crypto projects required Mayweather and co-promoter DJ Khaled to pay fines of $600,000 and $150,000, respectively.
