UFC Fighter Matheus Nicolau To Be Paid In Bitcoin Currency

Matheus Nicolau is quickly moving up the UFC flyweight ladder.

Nicolau, ranked eighth in the promotion, will receive his future fight earnings in bitcoin, according to a release. 

Through the Bitwage payroll service, Nicolau will become the first Latin American UFC fighter to take a paycheck in bitcoin form. 

“I’m thrilled to be receiving my earnings in bitcoin,” Nicolau said. “As an athlete, I work hard to earn a living for myself, but with rising inflation, I worry that this hard work goes to waste. By using Bitwage to earn bitcoin, I know that I am securing the value of my work.”

Nicolau, a native of Belo Horizonte, sees the growth of the currency over the past two years – especially within his home of South America. 

“We are very bullish on Bitcoin,” Nicolau’s manager Vinícius Las Casas said, “and we are looking to spread the Bitcoin gospel with this latest deal.” Alongside the Brazilian fighter, his manager will also be using Bitwage to receive a portion of his wages in bitcoin.”

Bitwage is the world’s largest payroll, invoicing, and benefits company in the Bitcoin space. Its services allow both individuals and companies around the world to receive their monthly wages in bitcoin. Bitwage is pioneering the payroll industry with its bitcoin 401k and lightning payroll products.

“Working with Matheus has been a rewarding experience for us,” said Bitwage CEO Jonathan Chester. “He’s an amazing fighter with a champion mentality.”

Nicolau is among the latest in a trend of professional athletes pioneering bitcoin deals: professional soccer players Achara Ifunanyachi and Alex Crognale made similar financial moves in 2021 with Bitwage.

MMA fighters in general, and even some of the internationally recognized superstars in the UFC, are paid in lump sums only after their events, much of their pay being contingent on a successful performance and performance bonuses. Many fighters are forced to take on extra jobs outside of their rigorous and time-consuming training regimens just to afford to pay their coaching and recovery teams.

Nicolau returns to the Octagon this Saturday when he faces David Dvorak at UFC Fight Night.