Tristan Thompson reveals why he is investing in crypto after his basketball career: “Be this kind of black panther in the financial space”
Tristan Thompson was known for his energy and blue-collar effort during his NBA career. Thompson was a relentless rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. He made a living out of crashing into the boards and giving extra possessions for his teams.
Tristan has not officially retired, but he has not played an NBA game since the 2024-25 season. Since he’s been away from pro basketball, he’s kept himself busy with his off-court business ventures.
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Among the things that keep TT preoccupied these days is cryptocurrency. And as the big man revealed on “The Kris Fade Show”, he’s retained his on-court personality while trying to grow his digital asset portfolio.
“I look at Crypto and Bitcoin, it’s like your financial freedom,”said Thompson. “You’re taking it back from these institutions that have done such a good job of brainwashing the North American, everyday folks. So it’s kind of made me hungry and be this kind of black panther in the financial space.”
TT is very active in the crypto space
Like most NBA players, Thompson hired financial advisors to help manage his money. In his case, he went with BlackRock, which is the world’s largest asset manager and a popular choice among his peers. However, when cryptocurrency became a hit during the pandemic and he became interested in it, his financial managers discouraged him.
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“They were like, ‘Yo, Bitcoin’s too volatile.’ One thing about BlackRock, they’re like the biggest, ‘We manage trillions of dollars in 70 countries, dadadada.’ And they just come like they’re just big boy. And then I’m like, ‘Okay, cool. Shut down the idea’. Next thing you know, months later, you just see Larry Fink buying Bitcoin, just buying a bunch,” he added.
With BlackRock’s CEO getting into Bitcoin himself, Thompson said he was motivated to dive into the crypto space. Since then, he has become a very outspoken advocate and serious investor in crypto. TT has not only attended crypto conferences and guested in crypto podcasts, but he’s also recently launched basketball.fun, a prediction market platform.
Diversification is still the key
It’s unclear how much Thompson has invested in Bitcoin, but he has talked about building a long-term crypto portfolio and sees it as a key part of his retirement strategy. But while Tristan is heavily invested in crypto culture and has encouraged his fellow NBA stars to do the same, he still advises against putting your eggs in one basket.
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“You gotta balance your portfolio,” he added. “You have to diversify. For myself, it’s real estate. I got property, I have land, traditional investment where you can get your 4 percent money market.”
At his age, it’s unlikely that Thompson will play in the NBA again. But not only did he earn $122 million in his career and is estimated to be worth $45 million in 2026, but he’s also put himself in a position where he’s set himself up for life with the investments that he’s made. These include his crypto portfolio, which he says has given him not only “financial freedom” but also the venue to remain competitive even after his playing days are over.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
