WSOP to allow crypto buy-ins
The World Series of Poker has partnered with Solana to allow players to buy into WSOP events with cryptocurrency and stablecoins.
The partnership was teased earlier this week and announced yesterday:
We are proud to announce Solana as the presenting sponsor of the 2026 World Series of Poker!
Playing poker and investing both require discipline, emotional control, and the ability to make the best decision with incomplete information.
This partnership marks a major step… pic.twitter.com/esfqV1TdtR
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 10, 2026
As of now, poker players will be able to complete tournament ticket purchases using Solana. Crucially, there will be zero processing fees.
This is the first time in the history of the World Series of Poker that players can directly buy in with cryptocurrency.
The partnership will expand to the World Series of Poker Paradise at the end of the year. At that point, winners will be able to receive settlements in stablecoins on Solana, meaning that near instant access to payments will be possible.
Crypto good, cash bad
It's a strange time that we are in, given that poker players are currently struggling to buy into World Series of Poker tournaments with cash. Yet they are now able to do so instantly with cryptocurrency.
This also may explain the aggressive stance taken against players wearing the patches of certain online poker rooms, most notably CoinPoker and Phenom Poker. Both of those rooms are crypto poker rooms, and it may be the case that they were pushed back on heavily so as not to water down the big announcement of the WSOP essentially becoming a crypto-friendly festival.
"We are incredibly proud to bring such an innovative and passionate community into the fold," said Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of WSOP. "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."
“Solana is a digital economy where people can own and trade millions of assets, make payments, earn on their money, and more,” said Vibhu Norby, Chief Product Officer, Solana Foundation. “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: hard decisions, incomplete information, minding your bankroll. We’re incredibly excited to grow the game of poker with the WSOP and bring these two worlds together.”
