Coinbase announced that it has signed a multi-year deal to become the exclusive cryptocurrency platform partner of the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League, and USA Basketball. Coinbase is the first cryptocurrency platform the NBA will partner with, and according to the announcement, the deal will consist of unique content, innovations, activations and experiences from Coinbase to educate fans on the increasing advancements happening across the crypto-economy.
Coinbase will also have a brand presence featured during nationally televised games, beginning with the tip-off of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary season. In addition, the company has been named presenting partner of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup and USA Basketball men’s and women’s exhibition tours, as well as with the G League Ignite.
Kerry Tatlock, the NBA’s Senior Vice President of global marketing partnerships and media, believes that Coinbase is the perfect match as the NBA’s first-ever cryptocurrency partner. “As a trusted cryptocurrency platform used by millions, Coinbase is a natural fit as the NBA’s first-ever partner in this thriving category,” Kerry Tatlock said in a statement. She added that the NBA “looks forward to collaborating with Coinbase to provide fans with new ways to engage with the league and each other, while also enhancing the experience for fans who are already Coinbase users.”
According to the WNBA’s Chief Marketing Officer, Phil Cook, the WNBA’s partnership with Coinbase is representative of the league’s emphasis on innovation as it continues to find opportunities to meet its fans where they are, and innovating alongside Coinbase will help it explore the future of fan engagement.
Coinbase, on its part, said that it was proud to become the official cryptocurrency partner of the leagues. And as part of the partnership, it “will create interactive experiences to engage with the NBA and WNBA’s incredible community and athletes around the world.”
While Coinbase is the NBA’s first cryptocurrency sponsor, several other teams have already partnered with crypto firms: Cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which also sponsors MLB, bought naming rights to the Miami Heat’s arena in April. Crypto rewards app StockX is the jersey patch partner of the Portland Trail Blazers, while the Philadelphia 76ers made Crypto.com their jersey patch sponsor last month.
Founded in 2012, Coinbase offers a trusted and easy-to-use platform for accessing the broader crypto-economy and is currently one of the largest cryptocurrency exchange platforms in the United States. Last week, the company partnered with music distribution company UnitedMasters, to offer its music artists the option of getting paid in crypto for the music they create. Its partnership with the leagues is the latest in its efforts to build a more fair, accessible, efficient, and transparent financial system enabled by crypto.
