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The partnership includes Glory’s online store accepting the cryptocurrency as a form of payment for its merchandise. Litecoin creator Charlie Lee thinks that having ad space in both kickboxing and MMA will help expand awareness to a younger audience.
“Glory has a growing worldwide fan base that consists in large part of a younger demographic who are early adopters of technology and conduct much of their lives online -- from consuming content to purchasing products,” said Lee in a prepared statement. The partnership will add to the increased awareness that came with Ben Askren cutting promos for the use of the cryptocurrency.
Speaking of Askren, he makes his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut at UFC 235 and can be seen sporting a Litecoin Foundation shirt this week while making media rounds.
Fight week is about to get Funky!
— UFC (@ufc) February 26, 2019
Signing in for the first time, @BenAskren. #UFC235 pic.twitter.com/OJ73KfQWyG
Glory CEO Marshall Zelaznik said, “With both companies also being young, dynamic and achieving consistent year-on-year growth, GLORY could not have found a more fitting cryptocurrency partner.”
Fighter pay has always been a topic of conversation and finding ways to keep combat sports athletes happy could use some more options. Is it only a matter of time before cryptocurrency is a payment option for combat sports athletes? Hopefully, the awareness that Lee and Askren are pushing for can add to the success fighters and promotions are looking for.
Edward Carbajal serves as the lead MMA analyst for Frontproof Media and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a brown belt in Ishin Ryu Karate. He has covered combat sports since 2014 and has been a fan of MMA since the first UFC. You can follow Edward on Twitter @Carbazel or at his website TheBlogBoardJungle.com.