9 Celebrity Endorsements That Are Pushing Crypto Mainstream

As a researcher examining the latest trends in the world of technology and finance, I’ve come across an intriguing development: Grammy award-winning rapper Eminem has joined forces with Crypto.com to promote blockchain technology to NBA fans through an advertisement. This collaboration is just one of many examples that highlight the increasing adoption of cryptocurrencies by celebrities. Here’s a list of ten other notable endorsements:

Before we proceed, let me share with you a recent post from Eminem, the famous rapper, on his social media platform, which includes an advertisement for Crypto.com.

You know what it’s always been. #FFTB #Ad @cryptocom
— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) April 26, 2024

“Right from the start, you didn’t pause, overpowering opposition with each hit and defense. Your strategy remained consistent.”

According to Bloomberg, the partnership between a prominent crypto exchange, a renowned hip-hop artist, and the NBA marks a significant change in thecrypto industry’s promotional strategies.

As a researcher studying the intersection of celebrity culture and cryptocurrency, I’ve noticed an intriguing trend emerging: six months following the high-profile fraud trial verdict against the founder of the collapsed crypto exchange FTX in New York, celebrities have reemerged as endorsers for various crypto projects in commercial advertisements.

Ten notable endorsements from celebrities serve as evidence of the significant progress made in cryptocurrency’s mainstream acceptance since the mining of Bitcoin‘s first block on January 3, 2009.

1. Elon Musk – Notorious Doge Father

For the seasoned engineer and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, finance holds little appeal. In an interview with Joe Rogan in May 2020, he expressed that finance is merely a matter of monitoring finances, but what truly captivates him is utilizing resources to progress civilization.

Musk acknowledges the significant advancements blockchain has brought about in finance. In truth, he has been advocating for Dogecoin since 2019, expressing his fondness for the cryptocurrency on social media with the statement, “Dogecoin is my preferred crypto. It’s quite fascinating.”

Styling himself the “Doge Father,” Musk has said regarding his vocal support for cryptocurrencies:

“I might pump, but I don’t dump.”

2. Lindsay Lohan – Dollar Inflation Hawk

In February 2021, approximately eleven months following Bitcoin’s third halving event, actress Lindsay Lohan of “The Parent Trap” and “Mean Girls” fame expressed her enthusiasm for Bitcoin by tweeting the phrase “Bitcoin To The Moon” accompanied by a rocket symbol.

bitcoin to the moon
— Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) February 10, 2021

Lohan’s statement aligned with her past views. As early as 2011, Lindsay expressed her worry about rising inflation on Twitter.

“Have you all noticed how expensive food and fuel have become lately? The value of the U.S. dollar may significantly decrease if the Federal Reserve continues to print more money.” (Paraphrased by an expert)

3. Maisie Williams – Arya Long Bitcoin?

Back in November 2020, approximately six months following Bitcoin’s four-year halving event, Maisie Williams – an esteemed actress from HBO’s “Game of Thrones” series – took to Twitter and posed the question: “Should I invest in Bitcoin in 2020?” She accompanied this query with a poll for her followers.

Nearly a million Twitter users voted, and 53% said “No,” while 47% said “Yes.”

should i go long on bitcoin ?
— Maisie Williams (@Maisie_Williams) November 16, 2020

4. Snoop Dogg – Pumps Dogecoin

As a data analyst, I’ve noticed an intriguing coincidence around early February 2021. At approximately the same time, Lindsay Lohan transferred Bitcoin, RIAA gold and platinum selling rapper Snoop Dogg took to Twitter to promote DOGE tokens with enthusiasm.

Snoop Dogg, the “Gin and Juice” artist, shared a photoshopped image on social media featuring one of his album covers. In this modified version, he was depicted as a Shiba Inu dog, accompanied by the caption: “Snoop Doge.”

@elonmusk
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) February 6, 2021

The cost of DOGE tokens reached a fresh peak of $0.0844 after tweets from Snoop Dogg and Elon Musk caused a price surge. KISS legend Gene Simmons urged Dogecoin holders to “hang on” in a subsequent tweet.

5. Ashton Kutcher – Early Bitcoin Investor

Mila Kunis, an actress known for her role in “That ’70s Show,” spoke about her early investment in Bitcoin on Stephen Colbert’s show in 2021. According to Kunis, her partner Ashton Kutcher, who portrayed Steve Jobs in the independent film “Jobs,” introduced them to Bitcoin as far back as 2013 and encouraged them to invest.

“He sat me down and said, ‘Hey, love, I need to tell you something; please let me know if I’m making no sense.’ He went on, ‘There’s this concept, it’s like digging up money. It’s called cryptocurrency. And there’s a specific company.’ This was over eight years ago now— ‘It’s named Bitcoin,'” Mila Kunis shared with Colbert.

I expressed my concern by saying, “I believe this plan is unwise,” to which he responded nonchalantly, “We’re still going ahead with it.” Unfortunately, this dynamic is not uncommon in our interactions.

6. LeBron James – Cut an ad for Crypto.com in 2022

In 2022, Power Forward LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and the LeBron James Family Foundation reached a multi-year agreement with Crypto.com. This was their first collaboration. In an advertisement for the Singapore-based crypto exchange, LeBron, who holds the record for the most points scored in NBA history, offered guidance to his younger self.

In the advertisement, a man named James from the future expressed, “I can’t reveal all the details, but if you aim to leave a lasting impact, take charge of your actions.”

7. Mark Cuban – Endorsed Polygon and Injective

In January of this year, Mark Cuban, a judge on ABC Network’s “Shark Tank” and the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, drew attention to Polygon (MATIC) and Injective (INJ) to his impressive following of 8.8 million people on X. He expressed, “I’ve put my money into both projects. Do Your Own Research.”

In a recent Q&A session on X platform, Cuban expressed his optimistic viewpoint towards Ethereum. He highlighted that Polygon, which is an extension of Ethereum’s ecosystem as a Layer-2 solution, plays a significant role in bolstering Ethereum’s base chain. Moreover, Injective, a standalone crypto platform, bridges with Ethereum via ERC20 to enable seamless interaction between multiple chains.

8. Kevin O’Leary – Once Crypto Skeptic, Now Bitcoin Bull

As an analyst, I’d rephrase it this way: Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, known for his role in venture capital shows like ABC’s Shark Tank, used to hold a skeptical stance towards cryptocurrencies. He once dismissed Bitcoin as “garbage” and a “useless currency.” In alignment with the late Warren Buffett’s right-hand man Charlie Munger, O’Leary saw no substance beyond raw speculation.

Currently, he identifies as more than just a Bitcoin advocate; he goes so far as to label himself a dedicated “Bitcoin purist.” His investment strategy involves acquiring and holding onto Bitcoin as if it were digital gold, with a long-term perspective in mind.

As a crypto investor, I share Kevin O’Leary’s perspective that holding your own on-chain Bitcoin is a better option than investing in Bitcoin ETFs. By doing so, you have the sole responsibility of safeguarding your private keys, making you the true owner of your digital assets. Additionally, avoiding ETF issuer fees allows for more efficient accumulation of cryptocurrencies over time.

Although O’Leary did predict the Bitcoin ETFs in July 2022.

9. Joe Rogan – Hyperbitcoinization Theory

Last October, on an episode of his podcast, comedian, UFC commentator, and podcast host Joe Rogan interviewed OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Among all cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin stands out as the most intriguing option in my opinion. It holds the greatest potential of transforming into a universally accepted currency. What makes it captivating is its limited supply and the ability for individuals to mine it using their own computers. This unique characteristic truly fascinates me. I’m deeply drawn to the concept of Bitcoin, as it has already been successfully implemented.

Over the course of several interviews, Rogan invited Bitcoin advocate Andreas Antonopoulos on his podcast not just once but a total of four times. During these conversations, Antonopoulos elucidated the intricacies of blockchain technology and highlighted the importance of cryptocurrencies in today’s economic landscape.

2024-05-05 20:27