Lewis Neal: Pro Footballer to Bitcoin Trader
Lewis Neal discovered Bitcoin after a career playing professional football and then trading various asset classes.
Even when things don't go as planned in your career, there are still opportunities to be found in other fields. That's according to Lewis Neal, a former National Football League (NFL) defensive tackle. Neal, who played for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars during his 11-year NFL career, knows a thing or two about finding success in unexpected places.
Speaking at the Blockchain Economy Dubai Summit 2022, Neal shared the inspiring story of how he transitioned from playing professional football to exploring the finance world - eventually leading him to Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto wallets. Neal's journey highlights the potential for blockchain technology and cryptocurrency to upend traditional industries and create new opportunities for those with the vision and drive to seize them. His story is a reminder that, with the right mindset, anything is possible in the exciting world of crypto.
Neal's experience is a great reminder that things don't always turn out the way we expect them to. It's important to stay humble and keep working hard, even when things aren't going our way.
“I thought I was going to get a lot of playing time. But during that year, I was a backup. [...] So, I had to develop another skill that can be life-changing for my family and myself. So, that's what drove me to get into the financial industry.”
I believe that by the time the former football player went to trade currencies, futures and commodities, he had a much better understanding of the financial world and was better equipped to find success in the crypto space. Eventually, he became the CEO of a crypto wallet project called Kryptic, which only goes to show that with hard work and dedication, anyone can find success in the crypto world.
Although Bitcoin has remained relatively stable amidst the recent falls of fiat currencies like the euro and pound, forex trader Neal argues that it could still see a drop if the dollar continues to strengthen. He cites the current global economic conditions as a major factor influencing the market, and believes that things could change rapidly in the near future. For now, Neal advises caution and watching the market closely for any major shifts.
I believe that the market will ultimately follow the economy, even if it is lagging behind in the short-term. So, just because Bitcoin is currently steady doesn't mean it can't fall in the future. If the overall economy weakens, then demand for Bitcoin will likely fall as well, leading to a decline in price.
As someone who has been in the locker room with sports professionals, I know that a lot of them don't even know how to download a wallet and buy cryptocurrency. This is why I believe it is important to simplify things and empower athletes by making the user experience simpler. With Web3 technologies like nonfungible tokens, athletes can engage with fans in a way that is easy and fun. I believe this will lead to more opportunities for athletes to connect with their fans and create a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Neal's vision for athletes is that they should have complete control over their brand, and that the process should be easy and mass-adopted. This would allow athletes to capitalize on their own image and create more value for themselves.
