Stephanie Douse 
FTX signs ambassadorial deal with Japanese Tennis star Naomi Osaka as part of its quest to foster cryptocurrency adoption by women.
FTX, a crypto derivatives exchange, has signed a long-term partnership with Naomi Osaka, Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion, Gisele Bündchen, the Brazilian supermodel, and NBA star Stephen Curry.
What the partnership entails for Naomi Osaka
The ambassadorial deal, according to FTX’s statement, would focus on “bringing women onto the platform and into the future of Web3”.
“We have seen the statistics about how few women are part of crypto by comparison, which kind of mirrors the inequality we see in other financial markets,” said Osaka. “Cryptocurrencies started with the goal of being accessible to everyone and breaking down barriers to entry.”
According to the announcement, Osaka will get an undisclosed amount of cryptocurrency in exchange for her endorsement, as well as an ownership position in the exchange. The Japanese tennis player will also be a part of a “long-term partnership” with the crypto exchange aimed at encouraging women into the space, according to the crypto exchange.
“We have seen the statistics about how few women are part of crypto by comparison, which kind of mirrors the inequality we see in other financial markets,” said Osaka. “Cryptocurrencies started with the goal of being accessible to everyone and breaking down barriers to entry.”
Osaka joins the likes of seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen, and NBA star Stephen Curry as an FTX ambassador. She will “creatively direct and produce content” aimed at a worldwide audience, according to the exchange, and will wear the FTX logo on her sportswear throughout her competition at the Miami Open, which starts today March 21.
Osaka isn’t new to the crypto space
Osaka, who was formerly ranked as the best singles player in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association, is no stranger to cryptocurrencies. In August 2021, Osaka and her sister Mari apparently created an NFT token collection, which sold for over $600,000.
The tennis star has indicated an interest in cryptocurrencies, such as Dogecoin (DOGE), and has hinted that token projects would “pop up.”
As the crypto field continues to evolve, several prominent celebrities, including athletes and movie and television personalities, have become the faces of crypto companies. Actor Matt Damon notably promoted Crypto.com in a commercial that aired in October 2021 and was derided by shows including South Park and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.