Miami Mayor Francis Suarez says he’s sitting on big gains from his Bitcoin paychecks, telling Fox Business he’s “up 300%” since taking his salary in bitcoin.
“I was paid with $30,000,” Suarez said, noting that Bitcoin had even risen 400% when it hit $120,000 earlier this year. Despite recent market volatility — with Bitcoin falling below $100,000 this week — Suarez said he’s not worried about short-term price swings.
[The volatility of bitcoin] “It really doesn’t bother me,” he told host Stuart Varney. “I’m more concerned about the macro impact of having a store of value that people trust, that has a monetization system known through the code.”
Suarez, who famously became one of the first US politicians to take his salary in Bitcoin, said the focus should be on how decentralized finance and crypto evolve alongside AI. “What’s more interesting is this evolution of where decentralized finance is going, where crypto is going, where AI is going,” he said.
Speaking at the American Business Forum in Miami, Suarez also highlighted the city’s rise as a financial hub. He said Miami’s pro-capitalist ethos is in “diametric opposition” to cities like New York, predicting a rise in real estate and business interests as a result.
Back in 2021, Suarez said the city will soon provide bitcoin to its citizens as part of a plan to build a full Bitcoin economy. Suarez said he envisions a future where the “Satoshi system” is used for payments, including city taxes.
He added that increasing Bitcoin’s utility will drive further value and adoption. Suarez also said he wants city employees paid in BTC and residents to pay fees in the cryptocurrency.
Miami’s current mayoral race is headed for a Dec. 9 finish between Democrat Eileen Higgins and Republican Emilio Gonzalez. Suarez was term-limited and could not run for mayor again.
Celebrities get paid in Bitcoin
Recently, NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. confirmed. his decision to take his 2021 Los Angeles Rams salary in Bitcoin. Beckham had converted his $750,000 base salary into BTC through a Cash App deal when Bitcoin was trading around $60,000.
Critics derided the move as Bitcoin later crashed nearly 80%, but by July 2025 the asset had risen to record highs above $120,000.
“Safe to say we’re still happy with our decision,” Beckham wrote on X as Bitcoin hit new highs.
At $118,000 per The BTC his initial payout was worth around $1.47 million – almost double the 2021 value. Even after an overall tax rate of 49.3%, Beckham would have taken home about $1.1 million, nearly three times what he would have earned in cash.
Other notable athletes who have taken their earnings in Bitcoin include Russell Okung, who received half of his $13 million Panthers salary in BTC, and Saquon Barkley, who chose to receive $10 million in endorsements in Bitcoin.