Trevor Lawrence adding cryptocurrency to his playbook

NEW YORK (AP) - Trevor Lawrence is set to cash in on multiple platforms.

Lawrence, the likely No. 1 overall NFL draft pick, signed an endorsement deal with cryptocurrency investment app Blockfolio on Monday.

Lawrence, the star quarterback at Clemson, is widely expected be selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL draft, which starts on Thursday night in Cleveland.

His signing bonus will come in cryptocurrency, which will be deposited into his Blockfolio account in a variety of crypto coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana.

Bitcoin and other digital currencies have increased in value over the past 18 months as a greater number of companies and individuals have accepted them as a form of payment.

Bitcoin, which was worth less than $10,000 at the start of 2020, tripled in value over 2020 and now is trading at roughly $53,000 a coin.

Companies such as Tesla now accept the currency as a form of payment on their electric vehicles, and companies such as Square and Venmo now allow individuals to hold Bitcoin within their apps. The digital currency brokerage Coinbase went public this year at a value of more than $80 billion.

Several NFL players already are involved in cryptocurrency. Panthers veteran offensive tackle Russell Okung recently became an investor and adviser of Fold, a credit card that allows people to accumulate Bitcoin when they shop at retailers.

Okung, entering his 11th NFL season, tweeted late last year “Paid in Bitcoin” and tweeted on Monday that “Bitcoin is inevitable.”

Also, Chiefs tight end Sean Culkin, who is entering his fifth NFL season, tweeted on Monday that he’s converting his 2021 salary into Bitcoin. He has two receptions for 36 yards for his career. He spent his first three seasons with the Chargers before playing one game last season for the Ravens.

___

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL