Linebacker Matai Tagoa’i Kicks Off His USC Career with Bitcoin NIL Deal

Following in the footsteps of professional athletes like Russell Okung and Odell Beckham Jr., Tagoa’i is adopting this payment method as part of his "name, image, and likeness" (NIL) deal with the University of Southern California (USC).

Tagoa’i will receive a portion of his NIL earnings through the Strike app. Other college athletes have earned payouts under similar agreements. For example, Shedeur Sanders reportedly received up to $4.7 million for his NIL partnership.

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Tagoa’i noted that the deal is a game-changer. He stated, "By taking part of my NIL earnings in Bitcoin, I’m setting myself up for long-term financial growth". He added:

I'm proud to be part of this innovative collaboration that's redefining the future of college athletics and finance and hope to set an example for other young athletes to think about their financial future.

NIL deals allow organizations to use an athlete’s name, image, or likeness in various ways, such as on merchandise, in video games, or for brand endorsements. These deals have created new opportunities for athletes to monetize their personal brand while still in college.

As athletes like Tagoa’i embrace Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies continue making waves in sports. Recently, Crypto.com sponsored a golf tournament, offering a $10 million prize pool in its native Cronos token. Could this sponsorship bring excitement to golf players? Read the full story.