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The slide in cryptocurrency markets has called into question a trend that peaked along with its price: getting paid in digital assets. <\/p>\n
Celebrities and other public figures flaunted their plans to receive pay in crypto. But the value of leading coins has plummeted this year, leaving those payments worth less in dollar terms. <\/p>\n
Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, was among the recipients. After taking office in January, he said <\/a>that his first three pay cheques would be \u201cautomatically converted\u201d to ethereum and bitcoin<\/a> via Coinbase, the crypto trading platform. <\/p>\n His first biweekly payment, worth $9,925 on a pre-tax basis in dollar terms, was deposited on January 21. <\/p>\n Since that date the dollar values of bitcoin and ethereum have fallen by 20 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively. If split evenly between the two cryptocurrencies<\/a>, Adams\u2019s first pay cheque would now be worth $7,416. <\/p>\n Adams was undeterred, comparing volatility in crypto with the stock market. \u201cPeople who look at bitcoin and say, \u2018OK, it\u2019s dropped\u2019. Well, what stocks have not dropped?\u201d he said in a recent interview <\/a>with the Financial Times, referring to the parallel weakness in equities this year. <\/p>\n He added that he had no regrets or second thoughts about his decision to be paid in crypto, a move intended to demonstrate the city\u2019s commitment to the fledgling industry. <\/p>\n \u201cI lost about a hundred-and-something thousand dollars when the stock market crashed out of my 401(k),\u201d Adams said. \u201cWe know it goes up and down. Bitcoin is here to stay, and the bulk of the investment is here in New York City<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Athletes including NFL player Aaron Rogers and Nascar driver Landon Cassill all agreed in recent months to receive at least some pay in digital currencies. <\/p>\n Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL football team, agreed to receive his $22.6mn signing bonus in cryptocurrency. If he held it in bitcoin, he would have just $9.8mn now, according to analysis by sports betting data company, The Action Network.<\/p>\n