The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has announced a new collaboration with the Solana Foundation and MoonPay, bringing cryptocurrency payments into the tournament series for the first time in WSOP history.
Beginning at the 57th annual WSOP summer series at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas, players can purchase tournament tickets using Solana-powered payments through MoonPay’s infrastructure. According to the announcement, the new payment option carries zero processing fees.
Players can use USDC, USDT, or SOL to buy into eligible tournaments, providing an additional payment method for those participating in WSOP events.
Stablecoin Payouts Coming to WSOP Paradise
The partnership is set to expand further at the 2026 WSOP Paradise festival in The Bahamas this December.
According to the announcement, tournament winners at eligible events will be able to receive settlements in stablecoins on Solana. The feature is intended to provide faster access to funds while reducing some of the friction traditionally associated with international tournament payouts.
As part of the agreement, the Solana Foundation will also serve as the official Presenting Sponsor of both the 2026 World Series of Poker and the 2026 WSOP Paradise.
Solana’s Role in the Payment Integration
The announcement highlights Solana’s transaction speed and low network costs as key reasons for the integration. Solana states that its network can process thousands of transactions per second, while average transaction fees remain below $0.001.
The announcement also says the initiative is designed to support faster settlement, streamlined payment processing for eligible events, improved accessibility for international players, and greater payment flexibility for participants traveling to major poker festivals.
Executives Highlight Overlap Between Poker and Crypto
WSOP Chief Executive Officer Ty Stewart said the partnership brings Solana’s community into the WSOP ecosystem and described the network’s speed and efficiency as a natural fit for the pace of live tournament poker.
Solana Foundation Chief Product Officer Vibhu Norby noted similarities between trading and poker, including decision-making under uncertainty, bankroll management, and risk assessment.
MoonPay Commerce President Jim Walker said poker players have historically embraced tools that improve speed and efficiency, describing cryptocurrency as a natural fit for tournament purchases and settlements.
Additional Activations Planned During WSOP
Beyond payments, the Solana Foundation will sponsor a select group of poker player ambassadors during this summer’s WSOP. The Solana ecosystem also plans to host hospitality events at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas, along with a separate experience during WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas.
The announcement further states that WSOP and Solana intend to collaborate on future onchain poker products.
WSOP coverage will be available through the WSOP YouTube channel, with related coverage and updates also appearing on X via WSOP and Solana channels.
The 2026 WSOP Main Event is scheduled to return to ESPN in the United States on July 2. International coverage 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.
