Meet the Cop Who Demanded His Paycheck in Bitcoin, Decades Ago

In the sleepy town of Vicco, Kentucky, a place where everybody knows your name, Tony Vaughn, the local Police Chief, in 2013 decided to receive his entire salary in Bitcoin.

Vaughn's Bitcoin Legacy

"I first learned about Bitcoin three months ago through my son, and became convinced virtual currencies are the future," Vaughn shares. His faith in Bitcoin is not just about the technology, it's about hope: "I pretty much think it will eventually take over, or I hope it does."

"We're trying to stay alive," Vaughn admits. "We're a small town, so we're trying to take every progressive move we can make. So it's just an interesting experiment."

In 2013, Bitcoin was trading hands less than $1000.

Search for the Bitcoin hero

But what's our Bitcoin buddy up to these days? We tried hitting him up to get the scoop—old-school, since he's nowhere to be seen on Twitter or Facebook.

The word on the street (okay, more like a whisper from a friend of a friend) is that he is content with his privacy, choosing not to publicly comment on his pioneering decision. However, through indirect channels, it is understood that Vaughn remains bullish on Bitcoin.

Kentucky Rejects Crypto Mining Subsidy

So, it's been a decade since little, Kentucky, was in the news and a lot sure has changed around these parts.

In August 2023, the state rejected a controversial proposal by Kentucky Power to give millions in energy price discounts to Ebon International’s proposed crypto mining facility.

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