The 2026 FIFA World Cup is barely underway, and crypto is already having its tournament moment. As Iran and New Zealand played to a 1-1 draw at SoFi Stadium on June 15 in their Group G opener, the real story for the digital asset industry was unfolding off the pitch: Kraken debuted as FIFA’s first-ever Official Crypto Exchange Supporter, and prediction market volumes for World Cup outcomes approached multi-billion-dollar levels.
Iranian defender Ramin Rezaeian, a veteran with 74 international caps, equalized in the 32nd minute with a deft outside-of-the-boot finish that beat the New Zealand goalkeeper.
Crypto gets its World Cup
Kraken’s sponsorship deal with FIFA is a landmark. No crypto exchange had ever held an official partnership with the governing body of the world’s most-watched sporting event.
Prediction markets hit new highs
