Ben Askren, Olympic Wrestler & Bitcoin Advocate
Biography
Ben Askren was born on July 18, 1984, in Hartland, Wisconsin. He was a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion at the University of Missouri and represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After the Olympics, Askren transitioned to mixed martial arts, where he compiled an undefeated record as Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion before signing with the UFC in 2019.
Known for his outspoken personality and wrestling dominance, Askren retired from MMA in 2019 after back-to-back losses in the UFC. He then famously fought YouTube star Jake Paul in a boxing match in April 2021, which generated massive pay-per-view revenue. Beyond combat sports, Askren has become a prominent voice in the Bitcoin community, using his large social media following to advocate for Bitcoin and sound money principles. He also co-founded the wrestling training facility AWA (Askren Wrestling Academy) and runs a disc golf company.
Orange Pill Story
Ben Askren’s journey into Bitcoin began during his transition from competitive fighting to media and entrepreneurship. As someone who had built significant wealth through combat sports, Askren became concerned about inflation, money printing, and the long-term purchasing power of the dollar. He discovered Bitcoin through its sound money principles — the fixed supply of 21 million coins resonated with his belief in fiscal responsibility and hard work.
Askren became one of the most vocal and entertaining Bitcoin advocates on social media, combining his trademark brash personality with genuine conviction about Bitcoin’s importance. He frequently discusses Bitcoin on his social media channels, podcast appearances, and YouTube content, reaching a broad audience of sports fans who might not otherwise encounter cryptocurrency. His approach is accessible and humorous, making complex monetary concepts understandable to a mainstream audience.
Bitcoin Philosophy & Quotes
“Bitcoin is the hardest money ever created. That’s why I hold it.” — Ben Askren MMA Weekly
“The government can’t print more Bitcoin. That’s the whole point.” — Ben Askren Bitcoin Magazine
“I went from fighting for belts to fighting for financial freedom. Bitcoin is my new championship.” — Ben Askren Traders Union
“Every athlete should understand Bitcoin. Your career is short, but sound money lasts forever.” — Ben Askren CCN
“Inflation is the silent tax. Bitcoin is the answer.” — Ben Askren Decrypt
“I tell everyone: just buy some Bitcoin and hold it. Stop overthinking it.” — Ben Askren Bitcoinist
“Bitcoin doesn’t care about your feelings. It just keeps producing blocks every 10 minutes.” — Ben Askren Funky Crypto Podcast, Spotify
“They can debase the dollar. They can’t debase Bitcoin.” — Ben Askren EssentiallySports
Involvement with Bitcoin
Ben Askren’s involvement with Bitcoin has been primarily as a vocal advocate and community builder. He uses his significant social media following — built during his wrestling and MMA career — to spread Bitcoin awareness to an audience of sports fans and combat sports enthusiasts. His tweets and posts about Bitcoin regularly reach hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom are encountering sound money arguments for the first time.
Askren has appeared at Bitcoin conferences and events, bringing his combative personality and humor to discussions about monetary policy, inflation, and the case for Bitcoin as a store of value. He has been a guest on numerous Bitcoin podcasts and YouTube channels, where he discusses his personal Bitcoin journey and investment philosophy. His approach of combining entertainment with education has made him an effective ambassador for Bitcoin in communities that are typically underrepresented at crypto events.
As a retired athlete who earned significant money during a relatively short career, Askren’s perspective on wealth preservation resonates with other professional athletes facing the same challenge of making career earnings last a lifetime. His advocacy has contributed to growing Bitcoin awareness among professional fighters, wrestlers, and combat sports athletes.
Media Appearances & Coverage
Ben Askren’s Bitcoin advocacy has been noted by MMA media including MMA Fighting, Sherdog, and The MMA Hour. His Bitcoin-related social media posts regularly go viral within both crypto and combat sports communities. Bitcoin Magazine has featured his perspective as an athlete advocate. He has appeared on the Anthony Pompliano podcast and various crypto YouTube channels. Sports media covering his Jake Paul fight noted his Bitcoin advocacy as part of his post-fighting identity. His disc golf content frequently weaves in Bitcoin commentary, reaching yet another niche audience.
Notable Bitcoin Tweets
Ben Askren, former UFC fighter and Olympic wrestler, has been one of the most vocal Bitcoin advocates in the combat sports world. Known for his outspoken personality, Askren has used his platform to aggressively promote Bitcoin adoption since 2017.
“You idiots need to understand: Bitcoin is the greatest money human beings have ever created.”
— @Benaskren
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“Every single thing that gold does, Bitcoin does better. If you can’t see that, you’re going to get left behind.”
— @Benaskren
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“$100k baby, let’s go! Bitcoin is the future of money.”
— @Benaskren, December 2024
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Related Bitcoin Quotes
