Solana Becomes Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 WSOP

The first official cryptocurrency partner of the WSOP

The World Series of Poker has announced a strategic partnership with the Solana Foundation. Under the agreement, Solana will serve as a Presenting Sponsor of both the 2026 WSOP and 2026 WSOP Paradise, while also becoming the official technology platform powering several of the series' payment solutions. 

We are proud to announce Solana as the presenting sponsor of the 2026 World Series of Poker!

Playing poker and investing both require discipline, emotional control, and the ability to make the best decision with incomplete information.

This partnership marks a major step… pic.twitter.com/esfqV1TdtR

— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 10, 2026

The partnership between the WSOP and Solana marks a logical next step in the growing relationship between the world's largest poker series and the cryptocurrency industry. Earlier in 2026, WSOP organizers removed cryptocurrency brands from the list of prohibited logos that players are not allowed to display on their apparel.

As part of the new agreement, tournament participants will also be able to purchase event tickets using Solana through the MoonPay payment system. These transactions will be processed without any additional fees.

The next phase of the integration will debut at WSOP Paradise, scheduled for December 2026 in the Bahamas. Tournament winners will have the option to receive their payouts in stablecoins via the Solana network, a solution designed to accelerate international transactions and reduce some administrative procedures associated with cross-border payments.

According to the WSOP, this payment method is particularly appealing to players who frequently encounter delays when receiving large bank transfers after major tournaments.

WSOP and Solana Management discuss new partnership

WSOP CEO Ty Stewart said that Solana and the WSOP share a similar philosophy in product development.

He explained that both organizations are focused on user convenience and strive to implement modern technologies that can improve the customer experience. He also emphasized that the high speed of the Solana network is well-suited to the dynamics of the world's largest poker tournaments.

Vibhu Norby, Chief Product Officer of the Solana Foundation, stated that digital asset trading and poker share many similarities: decision-making under conditions of incomplete information, bankroll management, and constantly making decisions based on probabilities.  This is why the partnership seems a natural fit for both parties.

What is Solana?

Solana is a high-performance blockchain network designed to support payments, digital assets, decentralized applications, and financial services.

The network is known for its high transaction speeds and low fees. According to the Solana Foundation, the blockchain can process thousands of transactions per second, with the average transaction cost typically being less than one-tenth of a cent.

In recent years, the Solana ecosystem has become one of the largest in the cryptocurrency industry and is actively used for stablecoins, digital payments, and trading platforms. Many gaming sites, including poker rooms, support the Solana cryptocurrency.

What does this mean for players?

The integration of Solana represents one of the most notable technological developments in WSOP history. Players can now register for tournaments using cryptocurrency without relying on traditional banking intermediaries, and later this year, they are expected to have the option of receiving prize payouts directly in digital assets.

Should the initiative prove successful, similar solutions could eventually become standard not only at the WSOP but across major poker festivals worldwide.