The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has added Solana-based cryptocurrency payments for eligible tournament buy-ins, allowing players to purchase entries using SOL, USDC, and USDT for the first time in the tournament's history.
The payments are processed through MoonPay Commerce, MoonPay's crypto payment infrastructure. The best part? No processing fees from WSOP.
This is all part of a broader commercial partnership between WSOP and Solana Foundation. Solana Foundation will serve as presenting sponsor of both the 2026 World Series of Poker and the 2026 WSOP Paradise series in The Bahamas. The designation marks only the third presenting sponsorship in the tournament's history, following presenting sponsorships by Milwaukee's Best Light in 2006 and Jack Link's Beef Jerky in 2009.
Proud to share that @solana is now the presenting sponsor of the World Series of Poker, the first in 15 years and only 3rd in their 59 year history.
— vibhu (@vibhu) June 10, 2026
When we thought about what kind of bets we could make to grow Solana, poker was a standout:
- 100m monthly players; bigger than… https://t.co/roF1a9jZOF pic.twitter.com/qW6X9hmLQY
Solana Payments to Expand Beyond Tournament Registration
The integration launches at the 57th annual WSOP, where eligible players can purchase tournament entries directly with cryptocurrencies on the Solana network, but it doesn't stop there.
Later this year at WSOP Paradise the integration will expand giving eligible tournament winners the ability to receive prize settlements in stablecoins on Solana, providing an alternative to traditional payment methods.
WSOP CEO Ty Stewart said the partnership reflects the tournament's focus on improving the player experience.
"We are incredibly proud to bring such an innovative and passionate community into the fold. Solana's ecosystem, like the WSOP, constantly challenges conventions and remains laser-focused on the consumer experience. Solana's speed and efficiency mirror the fast-paced energy of our tournaments, and we are excited to showcase their technology to our global audience."
In a statement from MoonPay Commerce President Jim Walker he felt that crypto is a natural fit:
"Poker players have always lived at the forefront of innovation. They think in probabilities, move fast, and adopt the tools that give them an edge," said Jim Walker, President of MoonPay Commerce. "Cryptocurrency is a natural fit. By powering purchases and settlements through MoonPay on Solana, we're meeting that demand directly: faster, borderless payments that make it simple for players anywhere to take their seat at the world's biggest tables."
Solana Will Be on TV Everywhere
If all that wasn't enough, the sponsorship will also place Solana branding across the tournament series as the WSOP returns to ESPN for U.S. television coverage. The 2026 Main Event will be distributed to more than 130 countries and over 300 million homes through ESPN networks, TSN, Disney+, Groupe M6, Abema Japan, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Eurosport.
Solana has also begun streaming WSOP coverage through its official X account, adding to the tournament's existing YouTube and X broadcasts.
