Kim Kardashian West, the reality television starlet with 114 million followers on Instagram[1], staked what appeared to be physical Bitcoin[2] (BTC) chips on a charity poker night out in LA yesterday, July 29.
Kardashian West, sisters Khloé Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, and mom Kris Jenner hosted a table at yesterday’s inaugural "If Only" Texas Hold’em Charity Poker in Los Angeles to raise funds for City of Hope, a nonprofit clinical research and treatment center for cancer.
Amidst her Instagram Stories’ videos of betting with poker chips, the star posted a picture in which she bet with what appeared to be physical[3] Bitcoin chips, accompanied by the jubilant byline “We moved onto bitcoin!”
The idea of representing Bitcoin with a physical commodity has been around for several years — whether by minting gold coins[4] or bespoke printed banknotes[5]. Kardashian West’s exact choice of a physical Bitcoin is difficult to ascertain from the video, but her endorsement of the cryptocurrency is arguably a significant move given her international cachet.
This May, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star and beauty brand entrepreneur won[6] the annual CFDA Fashion Awards first Influencer Award, with CFDA board member and designer Tommy Hilfiger saying at the time that:
“Kim is the most important and powerful influencer in the world. Her reach extends far beyond her own brands. Every time she wears, posts or talks about a fashion brand, there is an immediate and significant increase in both awareness and sales.”
As of July 2018, Forbes has estimated Kardashian West’s net worth to be $350 million[7].
