Crypto platform Nexo and over 35 prominent organizations in the cryptocurrency industry have joined together to advocate for an official Bitcoin emoji. The initiative, called “Bitcoin Deserves an Emoji,” has set a goal of securing 50,000 endorsements worldwide. Within one week of its launch, over 10,000 individuals have already signed the petition, which is directed towards the Unicode Consortium, the governing body responsible for standardizing emojis across platforms. Notable organizations supporting the campaign include Brink, Bitget, Chainalysis, Kraken, Polygon, Brave, and BTC Inc.
Kosta Kantchev, co-founder and executive chairman of Nexo, believes that Bitcoin’s market dominance and widespread adoption necessitate a unified symbol on all keyboards. He states that the push for a Bitcoin emoji is not only symbolic but also reflects the unity and determination of the crypto community to promote Bitcoin’s adoption globally.
Taking inspiration from previous emoji campaigns, such as Taco Bell’s pursuit of a taco emoji and Tinder’s advocacy for an interracial couple icon, the Bitcoin Deserves an Emoji initiative aims to generate enough momentum to spur action from Unicode.
Eleonor Genova, head of communications at Nexo, describes the campaign as the heartbeat of a global movement that resonates with the aspirations of a vast community. She emphasizes that the initiative goes beyond mere representation of the crypto community and represents a step towards acknowledging Bitcoin’s impact on the world. The ultimate goal is to democratize Bitcoin’s presence, foster a deeper understanding, and garner appreciation from a global audience.
As Bitcoin gains more prominence in mainstream discussions, especially after the approval of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for the country’s first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in January, its influence extends beyond the realm of cryptocurrency. Genova envisions Bitcoin having its own emoji symbol, not just confined to wallets, exchanges, Crypto Twitter, and crypto media, but displayed on billions of screens worldwide.
She believes that it is the collective responsibility of the industry to champion this cause and extend it to every Bitcoin user. The 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 take place later this month.