Riot Games and Coinbase have announced a global partnership spanning both League of Legends and VALORANT competitions. As part of the agreement, Coinbase will serve as the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange and official blockchain technology partner for Riot's major esports events. The collaboration aims to bring fans closer to the action through custom broadcast segments and unique in-game cosmetic rewards, designed to elevate the overall viewing experience during tournaments.

a global partnership

The partnership will kick off with the VCT Masters Toronto, taking place from June 7 to 22. This isn't Coinbase’s first foray into sports partnerships—they've already established relationships with esports organization Team Liquid, as well as major professional leagues such as the WNBA and NBA, including teams like the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers. Their sponsorship portfolio also includes the Aston Martin Formula One Team and Bundesliga's Borussia Dortmund.

As previously mentioned, the partnership will begin next month at Masters event in Toronto and will later extend across the entire competitive circuit. This includes both the Masters and Champions stages of the VALORANT Champions Tour, as well as key League of Legends tournaments such as First Stand, the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), and the World Championship. The two partners plan to introduce new segments—“Econ Report” for VALORANT and “Gold Grind” for LoL—which will offer viewers real-time analysis of in-game currency trends and how they influence team strategies.

a sense of distrust from the community

There’s no denying that crypto partnerships in esports often spark debate. Many critics point to the young age of the esports audience, arguing that they may lack a solid understanding of the crypto world and could see it as a golden opportunity without being fully aware of the associated risks and dangers. Others still remember the ill-fated partnership between North American organization TSM and the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which turned into a fiasco shortly after its announcement due to FTX’s collapse in 2022 amid fraud investigations.