World Series of Poker Now Accepts Cryptocurrency for Buy-Ins

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is now accepting cryptocurrency as buy-ins for upcoming events. The Solana Foundation is the official Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 WSOP and the 2026 WSOP Paradise. Players can use SOL, USDC, or USDT to purchase their tournament tickets. MoonPay will power the crypto transactions and immediately convert crypto to traditional fiat currency for the WSOP.

This new deal comes just a few days after Britney Jing was removed from a high-stakes cash game over anti-money laundering laws. Caesars Entertainment was fined $7.8 million for allowing an illegal bookmaker to gamble at their properties. Nevada gaming regulators do not allow casinos to accept cryptocurrency directly for wagering, but they do allow operators to accept crypto if it is processed through specific blockchain analytic systems. MoonPay will handle the AML burden, shifting it from Caesars to MoonPay. This means Caesars and the WSOP are off the hook for any AML responsibilities as long as MoonPay processes the transaction.

Crypto exchanges and other third parties like MoonPay are able to flag wallets for possible illicit activity. Several crypto traders were banned from transacting on Hyperliquid after using HTX, a Russian cryptocurrency exchange sanctioned by the UK government. In 2019, one WSOP competitor said he was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Rio Hotel & Casino. The addition of crypto into high-stakes tournament poker improves player safety. Without the password to a crypto wallet, it’s much tougher to rob a poker player of their cryptocurrency. It also reduces friction for foreign players coming to the series. They no longer have to worry about currency conversion or declaring cash upon arrival. Triton Poker has been accepting crypto transactions for a few years and partnered with CoinPoker for their last series in Montenegro.