Nas, Legendary Hip-Hop Artist & Investor
Biography
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, known professionally as Nas, was born on September 14, 1973, in the Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City, Queens, New York — one of the largest public housing projects in North America. Despite dropping out of school after eighth grade, Nas went on to become one of the most acclaimed rappers in the history of hip-hop. His debut album “Illmatic” (1994) is universally regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever recorded and was inducted into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.
Beyond music, Nas has built an impressive career as a venture investor through his firm Queensbridge Venture Partners (later known as QueensBridge VP). His investment portfolio includes early stakes in companies such as Coinbase, Ring (acquired by Amazon for $1 billion), Lyft, Genius, Dropbox, and Pluto TV. His Coinbase investment, made in the company’s early days, became one of the most celebrated celebrity tech investments when Coinbase went public in 2021. Nas has released 14 studio albums and won multiple Grammy Awards. His estimated net worth is approximately $70 million.
Orange Pill Story
Nas’s journey into Bitcoin came through his venture capital activities. As an investor who had already demonstrated a keen eye for transformative technology companies, Nas was introduced to Bitcoin and cryptocurrency through the tech startup ecosystem. His early investment in Coinbase, made through QueensBridge Venture Partners around 2013-2014, showed that he recognized the potential of cryptocurrency infrastructure before most mainstream investors.
Growing up in one of New York’s most underserved communities, Nas understood firsthand the limitations of the traditional financial system for Black Americans and low-income communities. Bitcoin’s promise of financial inclusion and its ability to operate outside the traditional banking system resonated with his personal experience. He has spoken about how cryptocurrency represents an opportunity for communities that have historically been excluded from wealth-building through traditional financial channels.
Bitcoin Philosophy & Quotes
“Bitcoin is the future. I invested in Coinbase because I believe in the technology and what it means for people.” — Nas CoinDesk, August 2014
“Cryptocurrency is the most exciting thing happening in finance. It gives power back to the people.” — Nas Yahoo Finance
“I come from a community where the banks didn’t serve us. Bitcoin changes that.” — Nas Bitcoin News
“When I invested in Coinbase, people thought I was crazy. Now they see the vision.” — Nas Benzinga
“The future of money is digital. I want to be part of that revolution.” — Nas Coinspeaker
“My investments in tech aren’t about trends. They’re about seeing the future and positioning for it.” — Nas Bitcoinist
“Financial freedom is the real freedom. Bitcoin offers that to anyone with a phone.” — Nas X/Twitter
“I invest in things that empower people. That’s what drew me to crypto.” — Nas Bitcoiners Anonymous
Involvement with Bitcoin
Nas’s most significant involvement with Bitcoin has been his early investment in Coinbase through QueensBridge Venture Partners. The investment, made when Coinbase was a small startup, proved to be extraordinarily successful. When Coinbase went public via direct listing on NASDAQ in April 2021, the company was valued at approximately $86 billion on its first day of trading. Nas’s early stake was reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars at that valuation, making it one of the most successful celebrity tech investments in history.
Beyond Coinbase, Nas has invested in other cryptocurrency and fintech companies through his venture fund. His portfolio reflects a belief in financial technology as a tool for democratization and inclusion. He has used his platform as one of hip-hop’s most respected artists to bring awareness of cryptocurrency to audiences that traditional crypto marketing rarely reaches.
Nas’s involvement is significant because it represents the bridge between cryptocurrency and hip-hop culture, two communities that share an emphasis on financial independence, self-determination, and challenging established power structures. His success as a crypto investor has inspired other artists and celebrities to take cryptocurrency seriously as both an investment and a philosophy.
Media Appearances & Coverage
Nas’s Bitcoin and crypto investments have been covered by Forbes, CNBC, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal. His Coinbase investment was highlighted as one of the most successful celebrity venture investments when the company went public. Complex, XXL, and Rolling Stone have covered his tech investment activities. Fortune profiled his venture capital strategy and cryptocurrency investments. CoinDesk covered his role in bringing cryptocurrency awareness to the hip-hop community. His Instagram and Twitter posts about crypto have reached millions of followers.
Notable Bitcoin Tweets
Nas, the legendary hip-hop artist and savvy tech investor, was one of the earliest celebrity Bitcoin advocates. His early investment in Coinbase through Queensbridge Venture Partners turned into one of the most successful celebrity crypto investments in history.
“Bitcoin will evolve into an industry as big and important as the Internet itself. We are entering the age of Bitcoin.”
— @Nas, August 2014
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“It will be bigger than the Internet.”
— @Nas, 2014
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“Long crypto. Forever. In sickness and health.”
— @Nas
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Related Bitcoin Quotes
