Bitcoin can be used to pay employees in all different kinds of areas. Mixed martial arts might not be in the top 10 of “types of employees” looking to get paid in Bitcoin but that isn’t keeping Jon Fitch from sticking with the digital currency. In fact, Jon is the first MMA fighter to be fully paid in Bitcoin. Quite an interesting turn of events, but it seems to work out quite well.
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Jon Fitch Embraces Bitcoin Payments and Blockchain Technology
Unlike what most people assume is true, mixed martial arts experts are far more intelligent than people give them credit for. Despite their career path of breaking bones and punching people – while getting paid to do so – the average MMA fighter is interested in far more than just fancy cars, beautiful women, and being the VIP at events.
Jon Fitch is a clear example of this new breed of hybrid MMA fighters, who live for their sport, but also keep tabs on what is going on around them. Cryptocurrency and MMA seem like an odd mix, but it presents an avenue of new opportunities. The financial crisis of 2008 affected many people and Jon Fitch was among them.
Even though he is not being fully paid in digital currency at this exact moment in time, there is a clear opportunity for fans from all over the world to support their favourite fighters through cryptocurrency donations. Due to the borderless nature of Bitcoin and other digital currencies, people from all over the world can contribute to their favourites at little to no transaction cost.
“The appeal for me with bitcoin and MMA is it’s an international sport. A lot of guys have problems with getting paid and the payment processing that goes on. You fight in Brazil or somewhere else, and it takes a few weeks before you get your pay check. It’s not always easy for a lot of fighters. They’ve got people to pay, trainers, expenses, and things like that.” – Jon Fitch told Inverse in an interview.
Most of Jon’s fight deals are still negotiated in cash value, but he prefers to be paid in cryptocurrency. Prices will depend on the current market exchange rate, though, which is part of the excitement. However, Bitcoin volatility is still a worrying aspect of dealing with cryptocurrency payments, even though Jon never puts all of his eggs in one basket.
Learning about new digital currencies is not an easy task, although Jon Fitch mentions how Twitter is helping him do just that. Whereas most everyday consumers use Twitter and Facebook for social media purposes, others see it as a news feed. But there are other helpful tools as well, such as Bitcoin podcasts on Youtube.
Other than a huge affinity for Bitcoin and other digital currencies, Jon has a vast interest in blockchain technology and the decentralization of as many services as possible. Barter trading is making a surprise return to the business scene and people are more eager to contract someone from the other side of the world to complete a small or large job.
“In the Bay Area and Vegas, too, people have chickens so they have their own eggs. People make their own bread and they have fruit trees and if they can’t consume what they’re making, they have friends who have something else, so they’re trading. It’s kind of like we’re going back to the feudal time, which is kind of better, I think. Instead of going to one central location to get all your food or all your anything.” – Jon Fitch continued.
Cryptocurrency Solves A Lot of Problems
Jon Fitch’s story is not the only one out there, in terms of how cryptocurrency has changed people’s lives. Bitcoin packs a ton of potential to not only disrupt the tools and services known to the Western world but to provide easily accessible solutions to emerging markets as well. More and more people are looking for ways to do things they want to do with them, which is all but impossible whenever a government is involved.
Don’t be mistaken in thinking that only anarchists are involved in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Our society is at a turning point in terms of how it will evolve and the only way is forward. That way is paved with technological innovation, disruption, decentralization, and people taking back the power and control they relinquished to governments and banks.
Source: Inverse
Images courtesy of Jon Fitch, Shutterstock
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