The World Series of Poker is now accepting cryptocurrency as buy-ins for upcoming occasions.
WSOP officers introduced a partnership with the Solana Foundation Wednesday. The deal makes the muse the official Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 WSOP and the 2026 WSOP Paradise.
But maybe extra importantly, it permits WSOP members to purchase into WSOP occasions with cryptocurrency. Players can use SOL (the native token to the Solana chain), USDC, or USDT to buy their event tickets.
MoonPay, an on-and-off-ramp service for crypto, will “power” the crypto transactions. In essence, the third-party will instantly convert crypto to conventional fiat forex for the WSOP.
“We are incredibly proud to bring such an innovative and passionate community into the fold,” stated WSOP CEO Ty Stewart. “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.”
Partnership Could Ease High-Stakes Roadblocks
The new deal comes only a few days after Britney Jing was faraway from a high-stakes money recreation over anti-money laundering legal guidelines. Jing introduced a big sum of money from Los Angeles to play within the recreation and WSOP officers had been unable to confirm the place the cash originated.
Caesars Entertainment is lower than a yr faraway from a $7.8 million fantastic for permitting an unlawful bookmaker to gamble at their properties.
Thus, the corporate thought permitting Jing to play put the corporate prone to one other huge invoice. However, the brand new settlement with Solana may ease future high-stakes funding issues.
Nevada gaming regulators don’t permit casinos to simply accept cryptocurrency instantly for wagering. But they do permit operators to simply accept crypto whether it is processed by means of particular blockchain analytic methods.
Insert MoonPay.
The AML burden shifts from Caesars to MoonPay within the crypto transaction. As lengthy because it processes the transaction, Caesars and the WSOP is off the hook for any AML obligations.
Easier To Catch Money Laundering With Crypto Transactions?
Part of the negativity round cryptocurrency is that it lacks performance and is barely utilized by criminals to launder cash. But that could be a misnomer.
Crypto exchanges and different third events like MoonPay are in a position to flag wallets for doable illicit exercise. Then, crypto coming from these pockets addresses can rapidly and simply be denied.
At the tip of May, a number of crypto merchants posted on social media about getting banned from transacting on Hyperliquid, a brand new on-chain crypto trade.
These merchants all had one factor in frequent. They used HTX, a Russian cryptocurrency trade sanctioned by the UK authorities. According to Bloomberg experiences, UK regulators allege the trade helped the Kremlin evade monetary restriction and transfer $1.5 billion to its coffers.
I simply received banned from @HyperliquidX ?? 😭😭
My primary pockets was instantly flagged as “high risk” by a third-party screening instrument, and I can not connect with the Hyperliquid frontend
I genuinely don’t perceive this resolution, particularly as a result of it’s occurring now.
Over… pic.twitter.com/UwPC5Tn4yC— Maxime (@MixemaCrypto) March 29, 2026
In this occasion, the flexibility to flag wallets seems to have harm a bunch of harmless merchants. However, the flexibility to do it truly helps the WSOP streamline its AML protections.
Safety For High-Stakes Players
Lastly, the addition of crypto into high-stakes event poker improves participant security.
I bear in mind overlaying my first WSOP in 2009. On a number of events, I noticed poker gamers pulling bricks of money out of their backpacks to purchase into money video games, tournaments, or to sq. up event items with associates.
It places a goal on their again.
In 2019, one WSOP competitor stated he was robbed at gunpoint within the car parking zone of the Rio Hotel & Casino.
The WSOP presents providers to assist cut back the possibilities of that occuring, however the backside line is that carrying giant quantities of money continues to be a threat. However, with out the password to a crypto pockets, it’s a lot more durable to rob a poker participant of their cryptocurrency.
It additionally reduces friction for international gamers coming to the sequence. They not have to fret about forex conversion or declaring money upon arrival.
These issues are magnified at increased stakes. The recreation’s premier high-roller tour, Triton Poker, has been accepting crypto transactions for a number of years.
In reality, Triton has leaned into the cryptocurrency world, partnering with CoinPoker, a cyrptocurrency-focused on-line poker site, for his or her final sequence in Montenegro.
