Key Points
- Nexo and over 35 other crypto organizations have initiated a campaign for an official Bitcoin emoji.
- The campaign has garnered 10,000 signatures in one week, aiming for 50,000 worldwide endorsements.
Crypto platform Nexo, together with more than 35 renowned entities in the cryptocurrency sector, have initiated a campaign for an official Bitcoin (BTC) emoji. The announcement was made on April 2, with the campaign titled “Bitcoin Deserves an Emoji” aiming to secure 50,000 global endorsements.
In the first week of the campaign, over 10,000 individuals have already signed the petition. The petition is addressed to the Unicode Consortium, the governing entity responsible for standardizing emojis across different platforms. Among the organizations supporting the campaign are Brink, Bitget, Chainalysis, Kraken, Polygon, Brave, and BTC Inc.
Why Bitcoin Deserves an Emoji
Kosta Kantchev, executive chairman and co-founder of Nexo, stated that the market dominance and widespread adoption of Bitcoin necessitate its representation through a “unified symbol on all keyboards.” He added that with over 1.26 billion total Bitcoin addresses and more than 190,000 professionals and tech pioneers propelling the global community, the Bitcoin emoji is long overdue.
The push for a Bitcoin emoji is not just symbolic. It is also a reflection of the unity and determination within the crypto community to promote the global adoption of Bitcoin. The campaign draws inspiration from previous successful emoji campaigns like Taco Bell’s effort for a taco emoji and Tinder’s advocacy for an interracial couple icon.
The Impact of a Bitcoin Emoji
Eleonor Genova, the head of communications at Nexo, described the campaign as the “heartbeat of a global movement, resonating with the dreams of a vast community.” She emphasized the critical role of emojis in today’s digital communication, expressing emotions, intentions, and concepts. For Bitcoin, an emoji would not only symbolize its legitimacy but also serve as a vital tool for education and mainstream acceptance.
Genova highlighted that the initiative is more than a call for representation. It is a step towards understanding and appreciating Bitcoin’s impact on the world, democratizing its presence, and fostering a deeper understanding among the global audience.
As Bitcoin becomes more prevalent in mainstream discourse, particularly after the United States Securities and Exchange Commission approved the country’s first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in January, its influence extends beyond cryptocurrency. Genova envisions Bitcoin not just in wallets and exchanges, but across billions of screens worldwide as its very own emoji symbol.
She referred to this moment as the “collective responsibility” of the industry to champion this cause and extend it to every Bitcoin user. “We’ve moved beyond the jargon of past bull runs and the fear of the past crypto winter; it’s time to recognize Bitcoin for what it truly is — a culture, not just a mere fleeting trend,” she stated.
This push for an official emoji comes as Bitcoin recently reached an all-time high, and the community prepares for the cryptocurrency’s fourth halving event, expected to occur later this month.