Professional skateboarding icon Tony Hawk took the stage at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami to share his early involvement with the cryptocurrency. Known as the 'Birdman,' Hawk told the audience that he first heard about Bitcoin in 2012 while reading about the infamous Silk Road darknet marketplace.
Bitcoin Discovery Through Silk Road
During a fireside chat with Augur co-founder Jeremy Gardner, Hawk explained: “I was reading about the chaos of Silk Road when that was all happening and I was fascinated with the payment component they had — and it was obviously Bitcoin. There was an anonymous side to it but also the idea that it was very fast and international, and to me, it was the future of finances. So I immediately researched how to buy Bitcoin. I wasn’t on Silk Road, but I did buy Bitcoin in 2012.”
Hawk revealed that after purchasing, he held the coins for the most part. “I held, pretty much. I didn’t do much with it. I was watching it obviously. I was holding on to my Bitcoin, and Charity: Water was the first charity that I knew of that accepted Bitcoin as a donation, so in my infinite wisdom I gave them four back in 2012.” Although Hawk said '2012,' the donation actually occurred in 2014, according to Charity: Water CEO Scott Harrison, who noted that the BTC was sold for a fraction of its current value at the time.
Skateboards for Charity
At the conference, Hawk auctioned 50 limited-edition Bitcoin-themed skateboards, including a unique signed board emblazoned with the words “End Fiat.” Proceeds from meet-and-greet sessions with special pass holders went to his nonprofit The Skatepark Project, which builds local skateparks worldwide.
Hawk drew parallels between skateboarding culture and the Bitcoin community: “I embraced the idea that skateboarding was for misfits. I felt like a misfit as a kid. I felt like I found my community, my tribe.” He encouraged attendees to see Bitcoin as more than an asset — a movement toward decentralized finance.