Solana Foundation sponsors WSOP 2026 with crypto buy-ins and payouts

Players can now enter World Series of Poker tournaments using Solana or stablecoins with zero processing fees, the Solana Foundation and WSOP said June 10.

"Introducing Solana-powered buy-ins and payouts modernizes how money moves through the poker ecosystem and reduces friction for players around the world," Vibhu Norby, chief product officer at the Solana Foundation, said.

The partnership uses MoonPay's payment infrastructure to process entries. Starting in December at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas, winners can receive tournament payouts in stablecoins on Solana, providing near-instant access to funds without international transfer delays. The Solana Foundation will also serve as the official presenting sponsor of the 2026 World Series of Poker and WSOP Paradise, with branding displayed across broadcast sets and on table felts.

The World Series of Poker hosts about 50 events worldwide and has paid out more than $4 billion in prize money. Its Main Event, with a $10,000 entry fee, begins television coverage July 2. The organizations plan to collaborate on on-chain poker products for a later release.

Solana processes thousands of transactions per second with an average fee below $0.001, making it practical for high-volume payment processing at a global tournament series, according to the foundation. The network has generated over $4 trillion in trading volume in recent years, Norby said.

"This is the first time in 15 years that the WSOP broadcast has had a headline sponsor, and only the third in its 59-year history," Norby said.

"Crypto is a natural fit," Jim Walker, commerce president at MoonPay, said in a statement. "By powering buy-ins and payouts 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."

Ty Stewart, chief executive officer of WSOP, said the partnership brings an innovative community into the fold. "Solana's ecosystem, like the WSOP, constantly challenges conventions and remains focused on the consumer experience," he said.

The collaboration is intended to improve the experience for international players who face currency conversion and transfer delays when traveling to events. Poker players can optimize their funds and gravitate toward faster experiences, Norby said, adding that the foundation expects strong adoption of the offerings.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.