World Team Tennis will have stablecoin payments behind its next season after Coinbase became the league’s presenting partner. The exchange will pay the entire sponsorship in USDC. Financial terms were not disclosed. The league’s 47th season starts on Dec. 1, 2026, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Coinbase announced the partnership on Nov. 11, 2026.
A stablecoin deal with a digital coin toss
USDC is backed one-to-one by the U.S. dollar. The league describes it as combining the stability of traditional currency with the speed and openness of blockchain technology. Both sides called the payment arrangement a starting point for more technology in the competition and the fan experience. The most visible change will be a digital coin toss inside the arena. It will replace the physical pre-match toss. Coinbase also plans to make premium in-arena experiences available to more fans and to help shape how viewers follow matches at home.
Broadcasts and access
Matches will air live on CNBC and stream free on Fandango. Viewers outside the U.S. and Canada will get free live access through the league’s YouTube channel. The league said broadcasts will use 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 framed wider access as a shared goal. Their release says 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. He pointed to access, fairness, transparency and trust as shared values. 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 matches to feel more interactive for longtime tennis followers and new fans.
Why it matters for Coinbase
The deal expands Coinbase’s presence in sports. Separately, the exchange is building the Everything Exchange, a platform for trading and managing crypto alongside 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 mixes professional tennis and entertainment. Tickets and season information are available through the league’s website. It is perhaps a small test case for stablecoin payments in sponsorship, but the league and the exchange clearly want it to be more than a one-off.
