The Eagles star shares how Bitcoin, trusted advisors, and financial education have shaped his investment strategy on and off the field.
During a lively panel at Coinbase’s State of Crypto Summit, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley sat down to unpack his crypto journey, his approach to investing, and how financial literacy is becoming increasingly important for athletes in today’s world.
Barkley’s crypto interest dates back to 2021, when he made headlines for accepting endorsement money in Bitcoin — a bold move at the time, given the asset’s value was hovering around $30,000 after it had fallen from its peak. But for Barkley, the decision was rooted in a long-term vision of financial freedom and trust in the people around him.
“For me, I felt like it was the right time to get involved,” he said during the panel. “I never want to be the smartest person in the room, and I feel like the only way you’re going to grow and improve is by surrounding yourself with super-smart people.”
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That mindset has guided Barkley throughout his career, both on and off the field. While many questioned his decision to enter the crypto market amid its volatility, Barkley leaned on advice from key figures, including Strike founder Jack Mallers and MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor. Barkley recalled how Saylor once advised him to go all-in on Bitcoin, advice he now admits, with a laugh, might have paid off if he had followed it.
The conversation turned serious as Barkley reflected on the broader issue of financial literacy among young athletes, particularly in the NIL (name, image, and likeness) era, where college athletes can now monetize their personal brands. Barkley acknowledged that many athletes, including himself early on, often lack financial literacy; however, he has been fortunate enough to build a strong circle of trusted advisors, which is something not everyone has access to.
“It’s sad, though, to say financial literacy is not there for a lot of us, and I’m honest enough to admit that was the case for me, too. I got really lucky,” Barkley said. “I’ve been able to surround myself with some really, really smart people and great people, too. That’s not the case for a lot of guys.”
When asked what draws athletes to crypto, Barkley pointed to the promise of financial freedom.
“A lot of athletes, especially in the NFL, come from places where they didn’t have much,” he said. “So, now everyone’s trying to find creative ways to create that financial freedom, and [the crypto] space continues to come up.”
Beyond crypto, the panel took a lighter turn with some rapid-fire questions. Barkley revealed his “Mount Rushmore” of running backs — Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Adrian Peterson, and Jim Brown — and admitted that if he could play another sport, it would be golf.
“If God could bless me with the talent he blessed me with for football, it would be golf,” Barkley joked.
Barkley said his proudest accomplishment was buying his parents a house even before signing his first NFL contract. After being selected No. 2 overall by the New York Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft, he signed a four-year, $31.2 million rookie deal.
In true crypto fashion, Barkley emphasized the importance of education and a long-term perspective as his most valuable pieces of advice.
“Continue to educate on it,” he concluded. “For me, the reason why I’ve been able to get involved as much as I’ve been able to is because I’ve tried my best to educate myself, and I’ve surrounded myself with the right people.”
Check out Boardroom’s full State of Crypto recap for more insights from the summit.
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