Bitwage Logo
bitcoin payroll1 min read

UFC Fighter Luana Pinheiro is Getting Paid in Bitcoin with Bitwage

Jonathan Chester & John LindsayApril 11, 2025
UFC Fighter Luana Pinheiro is Getting Paid in Bitcoin with Bitwage

Key Takeaways

  • Earlier this week, we announced our partnership with UFC fighter Luana Pinheiro.

  • She is currently ranked 15th in her UFC division and has won eight consecutive fights.

  • “Luana joining me in going onto the Bitcoin standard makes me very happy, and I am more than confident that these bold steps taken today will be a huge win in the future, for both of us,” Nicolau said.

Earlier this week, we announced our partnership with UFC fighter Luana Pinheiro. We are working with her to ensure she gets paid in Bitcoin, and in a stunning display of bullishness, Luana has decided to go all-in: 100% of her wages will be converted into Bitcoin automatically.

She is currently ranked 15th in her UFC division and has won eight consecutive fights. She made this decision after we worked with her boyfriend and fellow UFC fighter, Matheus Nicolau.

“Luana joining me in going onto the Bitcoin standard makes me very happy, and I am more than confident that these bold steps taken today will be a huge win in the future, for both of us,” Nicolau said.

Luana stated that Bitcoin works as a hedge against inflation. Over the years, the purchasing power of fiat currencies have been deteriorating, while BTC, despite its corrective movements, continues in an uptrend.

“I'm from Brazil, so I have lived through inflation and its effects," she said.

Luana was born in 1993, which is around the time the Brazilian currency Real was introduced and pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. It is now 5 BRL for 1 USD. For Luana, Bitcoin allows her to bypass these inflationary practices.

But why is she using Bitwage specifically?

"It's easy," she says. "The Bitwage process is automatic. I'm always busy with training, so I like anything that is automated. And with Bitwage, I trust their process."

We are thrilled to be working with such a talented, passionate fighter and we look forward to her incredibly successful and dynamic career.

Receive Your Salary in Bitcoin

Bitwage lets employees convert any portion of their paycheck to Bitcoin automatically — no employer action needed. Learn more about W-2 crypto benefit.

  • Works with any existing payroll system
  • No crypto knowledge required from your employer
  • Instant conversion at market rates

Free Guide: Global Payroll Playbook

Everything finance and HR teams need to pay international workers compliantly and efficiently. See also: compliance requirements and FX rates.

Complementary Reading

Off-Ramping: How Employees Convert Crypto to Fiat

Learn how crypto-paid employees can convert digital salaries to fiat. Compare off-ramp options, fees, tax tips, and security best practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions about UFC Fighter Luana Pinheiro is Getting Paid in Bitcoin with Bitwage

Earlier this week, we announced our partnership with UFC fighter Luana Pinheiro. We are working with her to ensure she gets paid in Bitcoin, and in a stunning d

Bitwage's Bitcoin payroll solution lets employees receive a portion of their salary in Bitcoin automatically, without requiring employers to hold crypto. It works with any existing payroll system.

No. Bitwage has no monthly subscription fee. You only pay a small per-transfer fee when you send a payment. This makes it ideal for companies that pay contractors on irregular schedules.

About the Author

Jonathan Chester & John Lindsay

Jonathan Chester & John Lindsay

Jonathan Chester and John Lindsay are the co-founders of Bitwage, pioneering Bitcoin and stablecoin payroll solutions since 2014. Together they've built one of the most trusted cross-border payment platforms for remote teams.

Related Articles

Pay your global team with Bitwage

International contractor payments, vendor automation, and crypto payroll — no monthly fee.