Perth Heat baseball players are now paid in Bitcoin
The Perth Heat, Australia’s most successful baseball team, have started paying their players in Bitcoin, becoming the first professional sports club in the world to make such a move.
Payments will be processed on the Lightning Network, a “layer 2” payment protocol at the top of the mainstream, with the help of the OpenNode platform.
As part of the partnership, staff members will also receive their salaries in the largest cryptocurrency.
In addition to this, Bitcoin will be accepted for basic goods and food.
To underscore its commitment to the biggest cryptocurrency, the Heat will keep it on its balance sheet.
Patrick O’Sullivan, the club’s new Bitcoin manager, said it wasn’t just a “one-time” bet to hedge against inflation:
This is not a one-time purchase to guard against future uncertainties or inflationary pressures. The Perth Heat embrace the reality that the future of corporate money and cash will live on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Founded in 1989, the Perth Heat have managed to win 15 Claxton Shield trophies.
