Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has reported substantial gains from his decision to receive his salary in Bitcoin, indicating to Fox Business that he has experienced a remarkable “up 300%” since making this choice.

Suarez elaborated, stating, “I got paid at $30,000,” and observed that Bitcoin had peaked at 400% growth when it reached $120,000 earlier this year. In light of recent market fluctuations—especially with Bitcoin dropping below $100,000—the Mayor expressed that he remains unconcerned with short-term price volatility.

According to Suarez, “[The volatility of bitcoin] really doesn’t bother me.” He emphasized his greater focus on the macroeconomic implications of possessing a store of value that garners public trust, particularly one with a money creation system defined by its code.

As a pioneering figure among U.S. politicians to accept Bitcoin as compensation, Suarez articulated that the discourse should primarily center on the dynamic evolution of decentralized finance, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence. “What’s more interesting is this evolution of where decentralized finance is going, where crypto is going, where AI is going,” he stated.

During his address at the American Business Forum in Miami, Suarez underscored the city’s burgeoning status as a financial center. He remarked that Miami’s pro-capitalist ethos stands in stark contrast to that of cities like New York, and he anticipates significant real estate and business interest as a result of this distinction.

In a statement made back in 2021, Suarez mentioned his ambition for Miami to eventually distribute Bitcoin to its citizens as part of a comprehensive strategy to establish a Bitcoin economy. He envisions a future where transactions, including city taxes, are conducted using “the Satoshi system.”

To further enhance Bitcoin’s utility, he advocates for city employees to be compensated in BTC and for residents to pay local fees with the cryptocurrency.

The current mayoral race in Miami is advancing to a runoff scheduled for December 9, featuring Democrat Eileen Higgins and Republican Emilio Gonzalez. Due to term limits, Suarez will not be running for re-election.

Celebrities Receiving Payments in Bitcoin

In a related topic, NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. has reaffirmed his decision to accept his 2021 Los Angeles Rams salary in Bitcoin. Beckham converted his $750,000 base salary to Bitcoin through a Cash App deal at a time when Bitcoin was valued at approximately $60,000.

Despite receiving criticism for the decision as Bitcoin later plummeted nearly 80%, the asset surged to unprecedented levels, exceeding $120,000 by July 2025.

“Safe to say we still happy with our decision,” Beckham commented on X as Bitcoin achieved new record highs.

With Bitcoin trading at $118,000, Beckham’s initial payout now stands at approximately $1.47 million—nearly double its value from 2021. After accounting for a combined tax rate of 49.3%, Beckham would have netted around $1.1 million, significantly exceeding his potential earnings in cash.

Among other notable athletes who have elected to receive their earnings in Bitcoin are Russell Okung, who accepted half of his $13 million salary with the Panthers in cryptocurrency, and Saquon Barkley, who opted to accept $10 million in endorsements in Bitcoin.

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