G2 Esports kicked off the Esports World Cup 2026 with a 1-0 win over FURIA, but the bigger story is the organization's crypto bet that has quietly turned into a major windfall. The team's Solana holdings, purchased for roughly €3.2 million around 2023, are now worth an estimated €16 million — a gain of about 400%.
A bet that aged well
G2's Solana position is not a one-off gamble. The organization has an active sponsorship deal with Betpanda, a crypto-focused betting platform, signaling that digital assets are part of its long-term commercial strategy. The growth of Solana's price has turned what was a relatively modest investment into a significant financial cushion for the esports team.
Esports World Cup goes all-in on crypto
The Esports World Cup 2026, held in Riyadh with a $75 million prize pool, has embraced crypto sponsorships and prediction markets. Coinbase and Bitget are among the event's sponsors, while platforms like Coinbase Predictions and Kalshi allow fans to wager on match outcomes. The tournament thus serves as a showcase for how crypto is reshaping the esports industry's revenue models.