Solana Becomes Official Presenting Sponsor of the World Series of Poker

By Mrinal Gujare

10 Jun 2026

Mrinal Gujare 10 Jun 2026

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WSOP teams up with Solana Foundation as presenting sponsor for 2026 events.
Players can now buy tickets with crypto (zero fees) and get paid in stablecoins.
Partnership streamlines payments, boosts global tournament accessibility and future innovation.

The World Series of Poker partnered with the Solana Foundation, making Solana the official presenting sponsor. Powered by MoonPay, players can now buy tournament tickets with crypto for zero fees and receive WSOP Paradise payouts via stablecoins near-instantly.

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has announced a first of its kind collaboration with the Solana Foundation, officially introducing cryptocurrency into the global live poker tournament experience.

As part of this landmark partnership, the Solana Foundation will serve as the official Presenting Sponsor for both the 2026 World Series of Poker and the 2026 World Series of Poker Paradise.

The integration launches today at the 57th annual summer event, hosted at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas. For the first time in the history of the WSOP, players can purchase tournament tickets directly with cryptocurrency.

This payment method utilizes MoonPay’s payment infrastructure and leverages Solana’s blockchain technology to ensure players face zero processing fees.

The collaboration is scheduled to expand further this December during the 2026 WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas.

At this winter event, tournament winners will have the option to receive their payouts and settlements in stablecoins on the Solana blockchain.

This feature aims to provide near-instant access to payments while reducing the traditional friction and delays often associated with international tournament financial settlements.

The poker community has historically been an early adopter of digital currencies, utilizing decentralized technology for its inherent efficiency and transparency.

As a high-performance blockchain network, Solana is capable of processing thousands of transactions per second. Its average transaction fees remain ultra-low at less than $0.001. By combining ticket purchases via MoonPay with stablecoin cashouts, the initiative delivers several key operational benefits:

Faster settlement and streamlined payment processing for eligible events
Greater accessibility for international players traveling to WSOP events
Near-instant global settlement with reduced friction for users
Expanded payment flexibility for players participating in marquee tournaments worldwide

By introducing these features, the partnership modernizes financial movement within the poker ecosystem and simplifies global player participation.

Executive Perspectives on the Convergence of Poker and Crypto

Leaders from the participating organizations highlighted the shared traits and communities linking the digital asset space to the poker world.

Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of WSOP, expressed pride in welcoming the Solana community. Stewart noted that the Solana ecosystem focuses heavily on the consumer experience and challenges conventions.

He added that Solana’s operational speed and efficiency mirror the fast-paced energy of live poker tournaments, making the global WSOP audience an ideal venue to showcase the technology.

Vibhu Norby, Chief Product Officer of the Solana Foundation, described Solana as a digital economy where users trade millions of assets, make payments, and earn on their money.

Norby highlighted that trading on Solana has generated over $4 trillion in volume over the last few years. He pointed out that trading shares core characteristics with poker, such as making hard decisions under incomplete information and managing a bankroll.

Jim Walker, President of MoonPay Commerce, stated that poker players naturally adopt tools that provide an edge because they think in probabilities and move fast.

Walker emphasized that powering ticket purchases and settlements through MoonPay on Solana directly addresses the demand for faster, borderless payments, allowing international players to easily secure seats at major tables.

Player Ambassadors, Hospitality, and Media Broadcasts

Beyond financial infrastructure, the Solana Foundation will sponsor a select group of individual poker player ambassadors to represent the ecosystem during the summer events in Las Vegas.

The Solana ecosystem will also host exclusive hospitality events at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas, alongside a premier experience at WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas.

Future plans between the partners include the development of collaborative on chain poker products.

Fans can follow daily streams of the action on the WSOP YouTube channel and on X via @Solana.

Additionally, the 2026 WSOP Main Event will return to linear television in the United States on ESPN starting July 2.

The global broadcast will reach more than 130 countries and over 300 million homes through ESPN networks, TSN, Disney+, Groupe M6, Abema Japan, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Eurosport.

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