NRG Esports knocked out Paper Rex with a 2-1 victory in their best-of-three series at the Esports World Cup 2026, advancing through the group stage while sending their opponents tumbling out of the upper bracket. The match took place on July 2, 2026, in Paris, kicking off what promises to be a summer-long spectacle with $75 million in total prize money spread across 25 events.
France’s new crypto sponsorship rules change the game
New French PSAN licensing regulations now permit licensed crypto and blockchain companies to appear as sponsors on team jerseys at the EWC. On-site activations and direct token integrations remain off-limits.
No direct Bitcoin or Ethereum sponsorships were reported for the NRG vs. Paper Rex match specifically.
Fan tokens enter the arena, sort of
