Miami Mayor Francis Suarez says he’s sitting on main positive factors from his Bitcoin paychecks, telling Fox Enterprise he’s “up 300%” since taking his wage in bitcoin.
“I bought paid at $30,000,” Suarez mentioned, noting that Bitcoin had even been up 400% when it hit $120,000 earlier this yr. Regardless of latest market volatility — with Bitcoin slipping beneath $100,000 this week — Suarez mentioned he isn’t frightened about short-term value swings.
[The volatility of bitcoin] “actually doesn’t trouble me,” he instructed host Stuart Varney. “I’m extra involved with the macro influence of getting a retailer of worth that individuals place confidence in, that has a cash creation system identified by the code.”
Suarez, who famously grew to become one of many first U.S. politicians to take his pay in Bitcoin, mentioned the main target must be on how decentralized finance and crypto are evolving alongside AI. “What’s extra attention-grabbing is that this evolution of the place decentralized finance goes, the place crypto goes, the place AI goes,” he mentioned.
Talking on the American Enterprise Discussion board in Miami, Suarez additionally highlighted the town’s rise as a monetary hub. He mentioned Miami’s pro-capitalist ethos stands in “diametric opposition” to cities like New York, predicting a surge in actual property and enterprise curiosity consequently.
Again in 2021, Suarez mentioned the town will quickly give bitcoin to its residents as a part of a plan to construct a full Bitcoin financial system. Suarez mentioned he envisions a future the place “the Satoshi system” is used for funds, together with metropolis taxes.
He added that growing Bitcoin’s utility will drive additional worth and adoption. Suarez additionally mentioned he desires metropolis workers paid in BTC and residents to pay charges within the cryptocurrency.
Miami’s present mayoral race is heading to a Dec. 9 runoff between Democrat Eileen Higgins and Republican Emilio Gonzalez. Suarez was term-limited, and couldn’t run for mayor once more.
Celebrities getting paid in Bitcoin
Not too long ago, NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. vindicated his determination to take his 2021 Los Angeles Rams wage in Bitcoin. Beckham had transformed his $750,000 base wage to BTC by a Money App deal when Bitcoin traded round $60,000.
Critics mocked the transfer as Bitcoin later crashed almost 80%, however by July 2025, the asset had surged to report highs above $120,000.
“Protected to say we nonetheless pleased with our determination,” Beckham posted on X as Bitcoin hit new all-time highs.
At $118,000 per BTC, his unique payout was value about $1.47 million — almost double its 2021 worth. Even after a mixed 49.3% tax price, Beckham would have taken dwelling roughly $1.1 million, nearly triple what he’d have earned in money.
Different notable athletes who’ve taken their earnings in Bitcoin embody Russell Okung, who acquired half of his $13 million Panthers wage in BTC, and Saquon Barkley, who opted to take $10 million in endorsements in Bitcoin.
