Ice hockey: Nikolaj Rosenthal first professional athlete to be paid exclusively in bitcoins

Nikolaj Rosenthal (26 years old), a Danish professional ice hockey player, will become the first professional athlete whose salary will be paid exclusively in bitcoins, announced the financial services company Bitcoin Switzerland on 14/12/2017. Bitcoin is a crypto-currency, or virtual currency, with a value that has multiplied by 18 during 2017, and which currently stands at nearly $15,000 (€12,660) per unit (on 20/12/2017).

Nikolaj Rosenthal plays for Rungsted Seier Capital, a Danish first division ice hockey club, belonging to his father Finn Rosenthal. This initiative is part of a three-year sponsorship agreement (until 31/12/2020) between Bitcoin Switzerland and the club, concluded on 14/12 and formalised on 27/12/2017. Bitcoin Switzerland has thus become the main sponsor of Rungsted Seier Capital and the naming rights sponsor of the Rungsted Arena (previously known as the Saxo Bank Arena), which will now be known as the Bitcoin Arena.

"This is the first time a crypto-financial company has become a sponsor of a first division professional sports team," said Bitcoin Switzerland…