Nexo, a cryptocurrency platform, and over 35 prominent organizations in the crypto space have come together to advocate for an official Bitcoin emoji. The campaign, called “Bitcoin Deserves an Emoji,” aims to gather 50,000 endorsements from around the world. Within just one week of its launch, over 10,000 individuals have already signed the petition, which is addressed to the Unicode Consortium, the governing body responsible for standardizing emojis across platforms. Notable organizations supporting the initiative include Brink, Bitget, Chainalysis, Kraken, Polygon, Brave, and BTC Inc.
According to Kosta Kantchev, co-founder and executive chairman of Nexo, the widespread adoption and market dominance of Bitcoin necessitate the creation of a “unified symbol on all keyboards.” Kantchev believes that the push for a Bitcoin emoji is not only a symbolic gesture but also a reflection of the crypto community’s unity and determination to promote the global adoption of Bitcoin.
Inspired by previous successful 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 prompt action from Unicode.
Eleonor Genova, the head of communications at Nexo, described the campaign as the “heartbeat of a global movement” that resonates with the dreams of a vast community. She emphasized that the initiative is not just about representation but also about showcasing Bitcoin’s impact on the world, democratizing its presence, and fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation among a global audience.
As Bitcoin gains more prominence in mainstream discussions, particularly 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 cryptocurrencies. Genova envisions Bitcoin having its own emoji symbol that appears on billions of screens worldwide, moving beyond wallets, exchanges, Crypto Twitter, and crypto media.
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 at a time when Bitcoin recently reached an all-time high and the community prepares for the cryptocurrency’s fourth halving event, expected to occur later this month.