World Series of Poker Brings Crypto to Poker's Biggest Stage Through Solana MoonPay

By Lidia Yadlos

The World Series of Poker is embracing crypto for the first time in its 57-year history.

WSOP has partnered with Solana and MoonPay to allow players to purchase tournament entries using stablecoins on Solana, marking one of the largest real-world integrations of blockchain payments in professional poker.

The initiative launches at the 2026 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas and will expand later this year at WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas, where tournament winners will also have the option to receive prize settlements in stablecoins.

The move reflects a growing push to bring blockchain-based payments into mainstream consumer experiences while reducing the friction associated with international transactions.

Crypto Buy-Ins Arrive at WSOP

Beginning this week, players competing at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas can use stablecoins on Solana to purchase tournament entries through MoonPay's payment infrastructure.

It's the first time players have been able to buy directly into WSOP events using crypto.

The partnership aims to simplify participation for the tournament's increasingly global player base. International poker players often face banking delays, currency conversion costs, and payment settlement challenges when traveling between events and jurisdictions.

By using stablecoins, players can move funds more quickly while avoiding many of the traditional bottlenecks associated with cross-border payments.

"We are incredibly proud to bring such an innovative and passionate community into the fold," said Ty Stewart, CEO of WSOP. "Solana's ecosystem, like the WSOP, constantly challenges conventions and remains laser-focused on the consumer experience."

Stablecoin Payouts Coming to Winners

The partnership goes beyond tournament registration.

At WSOP Paradise this December, players who cash in tournaments will be able to receive winnings in stablecoins on Solana, enabling near-instant settlements without relying on traditional banking rails.

For poker professionals who regularly travel internationally, faster access to winnings could significantly reduce the administrative complexity surrounding tournament payouts.

"Poker players have always lived at the forefront of innovation," said Jim Walker, President of MoonPay Commerce. "Crypto is a natural fit. By powering ticket purchases and settlements through MoonPay on Solana, we're delivering faster, borderless payments that make it easier for players anywhere to participate."

Why Solana?

The Solana Foundation is also serving as the presenting sponsor of both the 2026 World Series of Poker and WSOP Paradise.

According to Solana Foundation Chief Product Officer Vibhu Norby, the overlap between poker players and crypto traders made the partnership a natural fit.

"Trading shares many of the same characteristics as poker: hard decisions, incomplete information, and managing risk," Norby said.

The partnership comes as Solana continues expanding beyond trading and DeFi into consumer payments, stablecoins, gaming, and real-world financial applications.

More Than Payments

The collaboration will also include poker ambassadors representing the Solana ecosystem, hospitality events during WSOP in Las Vegas and The Bahamas, and future onchain poker-related initiatives.

While crypto sponsorships have become increasingly common across sports and entertainment, integrating blockchain directly into tournament payments and prize settlements represents a more meaningful step toward real-world utility.

For WSOP, the partnership modernizes how players enter and get paid. For Solana and MoonPay, it provides exposure to one of the world's most recognized competitive gaming brands.

With hundreds of thousands of tournament entrants and millions of dollars in prizes awarded each year, the World Series of Poker may become one of the highest-profile examples yet of stablecoins being used for everyday financial activity rather than speculation.

As crypto adoption continues expanding into mainstream industries, the poker table is becoming one of the latest venues where digital assets are moving from theory into practice.

Published on MoonPay

World Series of Poker Brings Crypto to Poker's Biggest Stage Through Solana MoonPay