On June 10, 2026, the Solana Foundation announced a landmark partnership with the World Series of Poker (WSOP), making Solana the official presenting sponsor of the renowned tournament series. This collaboration introduces crypto-based payments for tournament buy-ins and prize payouts, aiming to streamline the financial experience for players worldwide.
Under the deal, participants will be able to use Solana (SOL) or Solana-based stablecoins to pay entry fees with zero processing charges. The infrastructure is provided by crypto payments firm MoonPay, which will also facilitate stablecoin payouts for tournament winnings. The first stablecoin payout option is scheduled to go live at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas starting in December 2026.
Solana Foundation Chief Product Officer Vibhu Norby highlighted the benefits: “Introducing Solana-powered buy-ins and payouts modernizes how money moves through the poker ecosystem and reduces friction for players around the world.” He added that poker players prefer fast, seamless experiences, and expect strong adoption of these offerings. MoonPay Commerce President Jim Walker echoed the sentiment, calling crypto a “natural fit” for borderless, faster payments.
Beyond payments, the sponsorship includes Solana branding on the WSOP broadcast set and event tables, as well as a future collaboration on on-chain poker products. The WSOP, which hosts around 50 events globally and has paid over $4 billion in prize money, will start television coverage of its $10,000 buy-in Main Event on July 2. This partnership represents a significant real-world test case for Solana’s throughput and low fees in high-value, time-sensitive transactions.
