During the 2021 bull run, crypto firms dived deep into sports activities sponsorships. But, in 2022, issues slowed down, when the crypto market worn out about 70-85% of its market cap, a decline fueled additional by the autumn of FTX which was as soon as a significant participant in sports activities partnerships.
CoinGecko Research put collectively a prime of crypto firms with essentially the most sponsorships between 2021 and 2024.
Top Crypto Companies By Number of Sports Sponsorships
CoinGecko listed six firms with main sports activities offers and partnerships between 2021 and 2024.
1. Crypto.com (11)
Crypto.com turned one of the vital gamers relating to sports activities sponsorships and established offers throughout varied areas and a number of sports activities. Here are the sports activities wherein the crypto firm invested:
Basketball
Back in 2021, the Singapore-based trade Crypto.com signed an necessary deal valued at $700 million for the naming proper of the Staples Center, dwelling to the LA Lakers. The venue was renamed Crypto.com Arena.
CoinGecko famous that this partnership was historic, marking one of many largest sports activities sponsorships ever recorded.
Motorsport
Crypto.com fueled its relation to motorsports by teaming up with Aston Martin’s Formula 1 and sponsoring Formula 1 itself with $100 million again in 2021.
During the 2021 season, the Crypto.com Overtake Award was created to reward the person driver who made essentially the most overtakes in the course of the season, and the winner was Sebastian Vettel.
The crypto firm additionally sponsored the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix again in 2022, strengthening its ties to motorsports much more.
Soccer
Another focus relating to Crypto.com’s offers was soccer. In 2021, the crypto firm sponsored Coppa Italia, and the match’s highlighters between Atalanta and Juventus have been minted as NFTs.
The soccer offers for Crypto.com continued the following 12 months as nicely with the next strikes:
Combat Sports
Crypto.com additionally entered fight sports activities and secured a cope with UFC in 2021, a historic partnership that highlighted the platform’s curiosity in blended martial arts.
2. FTX (6)
FTX was one of many crypto firms with essentially the most sports activities offers earlier than its 2022 collapse. Here are its most notable sports activities offers:
Esports
In 2021, FTX signed a $210 million deal with Team SoloMid (esports).
Baseball
The identical 12 months, FTX signed a $135 million deal with Major League Baseball (MLB).
Basketball
FTX teamed up with NBA groups, securing a $135 million naming rights cope with the Miami Heat’s area. FTX additionally sponsored the Golden State Warriors with $10 million.
Motorsports
FTX signed a cope with Mercedes Formula 1, however in 2022 the group suspended its partnership.
3. Polkadot (5)
Polkadot has necessary partnerships within the sports activities world, particularly in motorsports and esports.
Motorsports
Polkadot sponsored racing driver Conor Daly throughout a number of occasions:
- The Indianapolis 500
- The NASCAR Truck Series
- The Nitro RallyCross
- The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Esports
In 2024, Polkadot additionally teamed up with Heroic, a top-tier esports group.
4. Coinbase (4)
Coinbase expanded its presence throughout a number of sports activities and it signed varied sponsorships in 2021 and 2022.
Esports
In 2021, Coinbase signed a sponsorship deal for BLAST Premier, renewing the partnership in 2022.
Basketball
In the identical 12 months, Coinbase signed a cope with NBA star Kevin Durant.
The trade additionally teamed up with the Women’s NBA.
Soccer
Kraken additionally signed a sponsorship cope with Borussia Dortmund in 2022, to get publicity to European soccer. This 12 months they extended their partnership
5. Kraken (4)
Kraken at the moment has 4 vital sports activities partnerships.
Football
Kraken is the official crypto and Web3 partner for Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League) for each their males’s and ladies’s groups. The trade can be a partner of Atlético de Madrid (La Liga).
Kraken signed a partnership with LP Leipzig’s males’s first group.
Formula 1
Kraken additionally sponsored the Williams Racing Formula 1 group.
6. Thunderpick (4)
Thunderpick crypto betting platform expanded its presence in esports through extra partnerships together with the next:
- In 2021, Thunderpick turned a associate of OG Esports.
- Thunderpick turned the official associate of Heroic CS2 Dota2.
- The platform prolonged their present partnership with the*gameHers in 2025.
- Thunderpick secured a partnership with Evil Geniuses in 2023.
