BYU Football Players Land NIL Deal With Cryptocurrency Exchange Platform
Sep 17, 2021, 10:08 PM
Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Keanu Hill (1) celebrates a long catch setting up a Cougar score as BYU and Utah play an NCAA football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Scott G. Winterton)
(Scott G. Winterton)
PROVO, Utah – The NIL deals continue to roll in for members of the BYU football program. A total of 110 BYU football players, who OhanaX represents, landed a deal with FTX.US (“FTX”).
According to a press release, “FTX is a popular cryptocurrency exchange platform that has recently done sports sponsorships around the country including the Miami Heat’s arena, the MLB, and deals with Tom Brady and Steph Curry.
🚨 BIG NEWS 🚨@FTX_US – one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has sponsored over 100 BYU Football student-athletes through a partnership with @ExperienceOhana! Very excited to be a part of this. FTX will be paying BYU Football players over $500… pic.twitter.com/AO8gERfyqS
— 🦘 🦘 Brandon Doyle 🦘🦘 (@TravelinTweeter) September 15, 2021
BYU’s deal with FTX is the first NIL deal in the country to pay players in cryptocurrency.
Each BYU football player signed with OhanaX will receive over $500 in their choice of US Dollars or cryptocurrency.
BYU players involved in the partnership will share sponsored posts on their social media channels about FTX, sharing the things they enjoy about the platform and encouraging their followers to use it with them.
Since the NCAA temporarily removed their amateurism rules on July 1, student-athletes around the country have been able to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL). It’s been a historic time in college athletics.
BYU football has been on the cutting edge of the NIL space. From launching the Built 4 Life program, which partners with the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Silicon Slopes, agency representation with OhanaX, and team-wide endorsement deals with Built Bar.
Now with cryptocurrency deals, BYU continues as a trendsetter for NIL deals.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
