For the first time in World Series of Poker history, players can enter into tournaments directly with crypto on Solana with zero processing fees. Solana Foundation will also serve as the official Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 World Series of Poker and 2026 World Series of Poker Paradise.
Poker is a game of skill and luck that, in many ways, mirrors the trader mentality: thinking in bets, managing your bankroll, acting on incomplete information, anchored by math. Beyond the overlapping characteristics between the crypto and poker communities, poker also represents a massive global audience: more people play poker every month than golf and tennis combined (roughly 100 million monthly players), and it's one of the fastest-growing games in the world.
Today, the World Series of Poker (WSOP®) – the longest-running and most prestigious poker tournament series in the world — announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Solana Foundation to bring the global poker experience into the age of digital money. Beginning at the 57th annual summer event at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas, players can complete tournament ticket purchases using Solana, powered by MoonPay Commerce. It's the first time in WSOP history that players can enter into tournaments directly with crypto on Solana, with zero transaction fees.
The integration expands further at the 2026 WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas this December, where tournament winners can receive settlements in stablecoins on Solana, enabling near-instant access to payments and reducing the friction traditionally associated with international tournament settlements.
As part of the collaboration, Solana Foundation will also serve as the official Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 World Series of Poker and 2026 World Series of Poker Paradise. As WSOP returns to ESPN – reaching more than 130 countries and 300 million homes via ESPN networks – Solana will be prominently featured throughout the series.
Starting today, Solana will be streaming the WSOP on X via @Solana. Games are also streamed daily on the WSOP YouTube channel and on X via @WSOP.
Digital Money at the Heart of the Poker Economy
The poker community has long been at the forefront of crypto adoption, embracing technologies like Solana for their efficiency and transparency. As a high-performance network, Solana is celebrated for its industry-leading transaction speeds — capable of processing thousands of transactions per second — and ultra-low costs, with average fees remaining below $0.001.
The buy-in experience is designed to be direct: purchase your ticket using USDC, USDT, or SOL and secure your spot at the table. No conversions, no extra steps, no friction between your wallet and your seat in the tournament.
By enabling players to enter tournaments and receive settlements in stablecoins on Solana, these initiatives allow:
- Faster settlement and streamlined payment processing for eligible events
- Greater accessibility for international players traveling to WSOP events
- Near-instant global settlement, with reduced friction for users
- Expanded payment flexibility for players participating in marquee tournaments worldwide
Introducing Solana-powered purchases and settlements modernizes how money moves through the poker ecosystem and reduces friction for players around the world.
Where Crypto and Poker Converge
This initiative bridges the digital asset space and the poker world, reinforcing the growing demand among players for faster financial tools that simplify participation in global events. Beyond payments, the collaboration brings together communities that are closely aligned.
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.
– Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, World Series of Poker
Solana is a digital economy where people can own and trade millions of assets, make payments, earn on their money, and more. Trading in particular has been a huge area of growth on Solana over the last few years, generating over $4 trillion in volume. At its core, trading shares many of the same characteristics as poker. We're incredibly excited to grow the game of poker with the WSOP and bring these two worlds together.
– Vibhu Norby, Chief Product Officer, Solana Foundation
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. Crypto is a natural fit. By powering buy-ins 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.
– Jim Walker, President, MoonPay Commerce
Watch the World Series of Poker with Solana
Solana Foundation is excited to collaborate deeply with WSOP to grow the game of poker and bring these two communities together.
Starting today, Solana will be streaming the WSOP on X via @Solana. Games are also streamed daily on the WSOP YouTube channel and on X via @WSOP.
The WSOP 2026 Main Event returns to TV in the United States on ESPN from July 2, and worldwide to more than 130 countries and over 300 million homes via ESPN networks, TSN, Disney+, Groupe M6, Abema Japan and Warner Bros. Discovery's Eurosport.
To enter the next tournament with crypto, visit wsop.com.