World Series of Poker: Tournament Buy-Ins With Crypto on Solana
Solana becomes Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 WSOP. For the first time, players can pay tournament tickets with USDC, USDT, or SOL — with zero transaction fees. Stablecoin payouts follow in December.
What Was Announced
The Solana Foundation and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) announced a collaboration: Solana becomes Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 WSOP and 2026 WSOP Paradise. For the first time in WSOP history, players can pay tournament buy-ins directly with crypto on Solana.
The Key Points
- Crypto buy-ins: tournament tickets can be purchased with USDC, USDT, or SOL, processed via MoonPay Commerce — per the announcement with zero transaction fees.
- Start: immediately, at the 57th annual summer event at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas.
- On-chain payouts: at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas (December 2026), tournament winners can receive their settlements in stablecoins on Solana — with near-instant access to funds.
- Reach: Solana streams the WSOP on X; the Main Event airs on ESPN and international networks from July 2 — per Solana, reaching more than 130 countries.
Context
The use case is classic consumer payments: high amounts, international participants, a need for fast settlement — exactly the profile where low fees and fast confirmation make the difference. Together with integrations like Mastercard’s stablecoin settlement, the WSOP joins the growing payments adoption on Solana.
Note: poker is gambling; participation and the use of crypto payments are subject to different legal rules depending on jurisdiction. This is reporting, not an invitation to participate, and not financial advice.
What to Watch
- How many players actually use the crypto buy-ins
- How the stablecoin payouts at WSOP Paradise work in practice in December
Sources
- Solana — World Series of Poker, Dealt by Solana
- WSOP — wsop.com
- SOLANA·HUB knowledge: Stablecoins on Solana compared