Miami Mayor Says His Bitcoin Paycheck Is Up 300%
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez Sees Major Gains in Bitcoin Salary
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has revealed that he has experienced significant growth in his Bitcoin earnings, stating that he is “up 300%” since opting to receive his salary in the cryptocurrency. Suarez shared during an interview with Fox Business that he initially received his payment at $30,000, with Bitcoin seeing a 400% increase when it reached $120,000 earlier this year. Despite recent market fluctuations that saw Bitcoin dropping below $100,000, Suarez remains unfazed by short-term price volatility.
In response to concerns about the volatility of Bitcoin, Suarez expressed his confidence in the cryptocurrency’s long-term potential, emphasizing the importance of having a secure store of value that is supported by a transparent money creation system embedded within its code. He highlighted the evolution of decentralized finance and crypto technologies, as well as their integration with artificial intelligence, as key areas of interest for the future.
Speaking at the American Business Forum in Miami, Suarez underscored the city’s emergence as a burgeoning financial hub, contrasting Miami’s pro-capitalist stance with cities like New York. He predicted a surge in real estate and business investments in Miami as a result of this favorable economic environment.
Looking ahead, Suarez reiterated his vision for Miami to transition towards a full Bitcoin economy, where citizens will receive Bitcoin as part of the city’s payment system. He envisions a future where Bitcoin, also known as the “Satoshi system,” will be utilized for various transactions, including municipal taxes.
Furthermore, Suarez expressed his desire for city employees to be paid in Bitcoin and for residents to conduct transactions using the cryptocurrency, emphasizing the role of increased utility in driving further adoption and value growth.
The current mayoral race in Miami is heading towards a Dec. 9 runoff between Democrat Eileen Higgins and Republican Emilio Gonzalez, with Suarez being term-limited and ineligible to run for reelection.
Celebrities Embracing Bitcoin Payments
Joining the trend of receiving payments in Bitcoin, NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. recently confirmed his decision to convert his 2021 Los Angeles Rams salary into the cryptocurrency. Beckham’s $750,000 base salary was converted to BTC through a Cash App arrangement when Bitcoin was trading around $60,000.
Despite facing criticism for his choice amid a subsequent 80% Bitcoin price drop, Beckham’s decision was vindicated as the cryptocurrency surged to new record highs above $120,000 by July 2025. At $118,000 per BTC, his initial payout was valued at approximately $1.47 million, nearly double its 2021 equivalent.
Other prominent athletes have also opted to receive their earnings in Bitcoin, including Russell Okung, who accepted half of his $13 million Panthers salary in BTC, and Saquon Barkley, who chose to receive $10 million in endorsements in the form of Bitcoin.
