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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is doing what World Cups do best: turning unknowns into household names. But this time around, the tournament’s expanded 48-team format isn’t just giving more countries a seat at the table. It’s giving crypto companies their largest audience yet.
Young guns stealing the spotlight
Argentina’s Nico Paz and Brazil’s Endrick are among the emerging talents turning heads during the group phase. Both represent a generational shift that’s been building for years, where teenagers and early-twentysomethings aren’t just participating in World Cups but actively shaping outcomes.
Crypto’s Super Bowl moment
Kraken is serving as the official crypto exchange partner of the tournament, with fan engagement initiatives designed to introduce digital assets to audiences who might not know a private key from a house key.
Chiliz is powering fan token ecosystems that let supporters engage more deeply with their favorite teams, letting holders participate in polls, access exclusive content, and feel a sense of ownership that goes beyond buying a jersey.
Chainlink and Avalanche are working the infrastructure layer. Chainlink’s oracle technology supports prediction markets by feeding real-world match data onto the blockchain, while Avalanche’s network underpins collectible and trading platforms.
Prediction markets and the fan engagement play
Trading volume on World Cup-related prediction markets is expected to reach into the billions as the tournament progresses through knockout rounds.
Fan tokens associated with participating nations and clubs are also seeing heightened activity. Chiliz-powered tokens tend to spike around match days, driven by a mix of genuine utility and speculative fervor.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
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