Coinbase has signed on as presenting partner of World Team Tennis, and the exchange will pay for the sponsorship entirely in $USDC. The deal covers the league’s 47th season, which starts Dec. 1, 2026, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Financial terms were not disclosed.
What the USDC payment means
The payment choice is notable because it puts a stablecoin behind a major sports league sponsorship. $USDC is backed one to one by the U.S. dollar. WTT’s release frames the coin as a way to combine familiar currency stability with blockchain speed. Coinbase said the arrangement follows its approach to earlier sports partnerships. Both sides called it a starting point for more technology use in the competition and in how fans follow matches. That could mean more changes later, though no full roadmap was released.
A digital coin toss and broadcast plans
One immediate change is the pre-match coin toss. WTT will replace the physical toss with a digital version inside the arena. Coinbase also plans to offer more premium in-arena experiences and to help shape how viewers watch at home. Matches will air live on CNBC and stream free on Fandango. Fans outside the U.S. and Canada will get free live access through the league’s YouTube channel. The league said broadcasts will include real-time elements built for digital audiences, with the goal of bringing viewers closer to the action. Both partners also said they want ticket prices to stay accessible.
Access is the shared message
Coinbase and WTT put wider access at the center of the deal. Their release cites about 1 billion tennis fans worldwide and says nearly one in four adults in the U.S. and Canada holds cryptocurrency. WTT CEO Stephen Amritraj said he has used Coinbase for a decade and listed access, fairness, transparency and trust as shared values. Coinbase Chief Marketing Officer Cat Ferdon said the two groups share a goal of widening access to tennis and economic freedom. She said the exchange wants matches to feel more interactive for longtime followers and new fans. Perhaps the sports angle is also a marketing play for Coinbase as it expands beyond crypto trading. The company said it is building the Everything Exchange, a platform for crypto, stocks, derivatives and prediction markets.
WTT was founded in 1974 and introduced mixed-gender team competition to professional tennis. The league now operates under new ownership with a primetime format that blends tennis and entertainment. Tickets and season information are available on the league’s website.
