Bitcoin Brands Backs Bellator MMA Battler

Spike TV is commonly associated with a few things, specifically interesting television shows like “Auction Hunters” and “Deadliest Warrior”, occasional movies, and of course, mixed martial arts (MMA) action. Thanks to that last item, though, Spike TV may find itself associated with something else, specifically, the Bitcoin cryptocurrency.

More specifically, Bitcoin Brands Inc. is now set to sponsor Phil “The New York Bad Ass” Baroni, a MMA fighter who has been seen previously in several other bouts, including OneFC, Pride, and UFC. Baroni will be wearing Bitcoin Brands logos on his fighting trunks, and will make his first appearance in the new fight wear tonight at nine P.M Eastern time on Spike with the broadcast of Bellator MMA. Baroni actually won't be alone in this sponsorship arrangement for long, however, as reports suggest that Bitcoin Brands has two other such fighters who will be featured in nationally-televised fights coming into play in the next couple of weeks.

Yet, it's also being said this represents the first such sponsorship arrangement, and will represent just a small part of a larger overall promotional setup arranged by Bitcoin Brands. Reports suggest there will be Bitcoin-related MMA merchandise, a set of meet-and-greet sessions with the various fighters in the arrangement, a set of online contests, and—which will answer a question many likely had—an expected performance bonus to the fighters to be paid in Bitcoin.

Reports suggest that MMA represents the fastest growing sport in the world—though e-sports might take issue with that statement—and also has coverage on major television networks, giving it a critical advantage in the field. This will be particularly useful for Bitcoin Brands, as the new campaign is set to support the arrival of new Bitcoin Brands ATM systems, which will be arriving in particular locations throughout North America in a bid to drive awareness of the cryptocurrency.

Driving awareness of Bitcoin is a smart idea. Right now, it doesn't really have the greatest image, what with the recent shutdown of the Mt. Gox Exchange and the like driving perception. But there are certainly positive drivers afoot for Bitcoin, like ZipZap's move to convert cash directly to Bitcoin for users in Latin America, as well as Beepi's new Bitcoin option for online car buyers as well as PRISMcide's move to secure the Bitcoin trade. The more places that use and accept Bitcoin—and the more visible the security around Bitcoin—the better the chance in the long term that users will take Bitcoin seriously. If users take Bitcoin seriously, and can have plenty of places to put Bitcoin to use, its value—both as a trade medium and as an investment tool—likewise increases.

Will MMA fighting be the key to Bitcoin's long term success? Probably not, at least, not in isolation; but as a larger component of a broad campaign of use, Bitcoin may well have just what it needs to really start taking off. With users getting more familiar with the brand, discovering how to get it, how to put it to use, and how to convert it to cash or anything else when the desire arises—all of this securely, without the risk that an exchange may crash and take every nickel of value with it—the end result could be the beginning of a big new day in Bitcoin.