The Bitcoin industry received its first celebrity endorsement following an announcement that Conexus Corporation’s subsidiary Bitcoin Direct LLC and boxing legend Mike Tyson have inked a partnership agreement.
The Mike Tyson Bitcoin ATMs will provide consumers with the ability to instantaneously purchase bitcoin via their mobile devices. “Mike Tyson’s fastest knock out in the ring was 30 seconds,” reads the official website. “The Mike Tyson Bitcoin ATM can turn your cash into bitcoin in under 20 seconds.”
But perhaps, more importantly, the occasion marks the first celebrity-sponsored product in the history of the growing Bitcoin industry, which may help to attract more interest from the general public.
President of Conexus Conrad Huss said:
"We are excited to announce the Mike Tyson Bitcoin ATM, which marks the first celebrity partnership in the Bitcoin industry."
The first of several Mike Tyson Bitcoin ATMs are expected to be installed by Bitcoin Direct, a limited liability company operating in , for consumer use later this month. No further details have been released as to what type of machines these will be.
There is a good chance that these will be General Bytes brand teller machines since Bitcoin Direct is the exclusive American distributer. However, the first Mike Tyson-branded bitcoin ATM launched last month was a Lamassu unit covered in black and white promotional branding, emblazoned with Mike Tyson’s former fighting image, so it remains to be seen who will be the manufacturer of these machines.
The future locations of these machines are also unknown, though The D and the Golden Gate Casino would be reasonable options as they do accept bitcoin, but do not have a bitcoin ATM.
If you would like to give it a try, Mike Tyson’s first ATM is located near The LINQ Hotel & Casino’s Promenade, off the strip, on
South Las Vegas Boulevard. It is a one-way ATM, which means it will only take your money and give you bitcoin, and also prepare to pay a 10% fee to use the service.