USC signee Matai Tagoa'i accepting NIL earnings in Bitcoin

USC signee Matai Tagoa’i has become one of the first athletes to accept part of his NIL earnings in Bitcoin. The four-star linebacker and top-100 recruit in the 2025 cycle has partnered with Strike, a Bitcoin app, to accept part of his NIL payments in Bitcoin. The deal was announced Thursday.

The deal was facilitated by the USC NIL collective House of Victory. Tagoa’i is believed to be the first college athlete to accept his NIL collective agreement in Bitcoin. The San Clemente (Calif.) linebacker picked USC over Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Washington.

“This is a game-changer for me,” Tagoa’i said in a statement. “By taking part of my NIL earnings in Bitcoin, I’m setting myself up for long-term financial growth. I’m grateful to Strike, House of Victory and 3Point0 Labs for helping me take this step. I’m proud to be part of this innovative collaboration that’s redefining the future of college athletics and finance and hope to set an example for other young athletes to think about their financial future.”

NIL collectives have become integral in college football, playing pivotal roles in roster retention and acquiring talent in high school and the transfer portal. Now USC’s House of Victory is paying a top recruit in the 2025 cycle in Bitcoin, a sign of the ever-changing landscape of college sports.

The 6-foot-4, 185-pound linebacker will play the WILL linebacker spot, which will allow him to stay in the box, as well as come off the edge and drop back in pass coverage.

“House of Victory is proud to be at the forefront of developments in the NIL space and to provide unparalleled access and opportunities for our student-athletes,” House of Victory’s executive director Spencer Harris said. “We’re proud to help facilitate this arrangement for Matai and help him achieve his goals on and off the field.”