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 begins December 1, 2026, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The arrangement puts a stablecoin at the center of a professional sports sponsorship. USDC is backed one to one by the U.S. dollar. WTT described it as combining the stability of traditional currency with the speed and openness of blockchain technology. The league said the payment structure follows Coinbase’s approach to earlier partnerships. Both sides called it a starting point for more technology use in the competition and fan experience.
A digital coin toss and new viewing plans
WTT will replace the physical pre-match coin toss with a digital coin toss inside the arena. Coinbase also plans to make premium in-arena experiences available to more fans and to help develop how viewers follow matches at home. Matches will air live on CNBC and stream free on Fandango. Viewers outside the U.S. and Canada will have free live access through the league’s YouTube channel.
The league said broadcasts will feature real-time technology designed for digital audiences, with the aim of bringing viewers closer to the action. Both partners said they intend to keep ticket prices accessible and reach as many fans as possible.
Access is the shared message
Coinbase and WTT described wider access as a shared goal. According to their release, roughly 1 billion tennis fans exist worldwide, and nearly one in four adults across the U.S. and Canada holds cryptocurrency. WTT CEO Stephen Amritraj said he has used Coinbase for a decade and pointed to access, fairness, transparency and trust as shared values. He said the league is at the beginning of that path as it starts a new era.
Coinbase Chief Marketing Officer Cat Ferdon said the partners share a mission of widening access to tennis and economic freedom. She said the exchange wants to make matches more interactive for established tennis followers and new fans.
Coinbase expands its sports presence
Coinbase said the $USDC sponsorship expands its presence in sports. Separately, the exchange is building the Everything Exchange, a platform for trading and managing crypto alongside stocks, derivatives and prediction markets.
Founded in 1974, WTT introduced mixed-gender team competition to professional tennis. The league now operates under new ownership, using a primetime format that combines professional tennis with entertainment. Tickets and season information are available through the league’s website.
