Promising college football player Matai Tagoai has agreed to receive a portion of his payments in Bitcoin under a contract with the University of Southern California (USC).
The athlete has allowed USC to use his “name, image, and likeness” in exchange for undisclosed compensation. Part of the payments will be made in Bitcoin via the Strike app. In similar NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) agreements, other players have earned up to $4.7 million.
Such NIL deals are a standard practice in U.S. college sports, providing athletes with income beyond scholarships.
“For me, this is a game-changer. By taking part of my NIL earnings in Bitcoin, I’m setting myself up for long-term financial growth,” Tagoai said.
The contract was signed as part of a partnership between Strike, the athlete, USC, and talent agency 3Point0 Labs.
“This deal isn’t just about NIL payments. It’s about educating athletes on the power of Bitcoin and giving them the tools to take control of their financial future,” said 3Point0 Labs founder and CEO Markel Martin.
In addition to Tagoai, Saquon Barkley and Russell Okung—both two-time Pro Bowlers—also receive payments through Strike.
Notably, in January, crypto firms refrained from advertising during the 2024 Super Bowl broadcast.
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