England captain Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to drag his side past DR Congo 2-1 on July 1, and now faces co-host Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on July 5. That’s the sports headline. The crypto headline is everything happening around it.
Kraken, the US-based exchange, became the first official crypto exchange supporter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup back on June 9. And as Kane’s late brace sent England into the round of 16, the deal’s implications are becoming clearer: crypto is no longer on the sidelines of global sports. It’s buying a front-row seat.
Fan tokens and the World Cup trading spike
During previous major tournaments, fan tokens linked to national teams and high-profile players have shown notable price volatility. Trading volumes tend to spike around marquee matches.
Kane’s 75th-minute equalizer and 86th-minute winner, both assisted by Anthony Gordon, are exactly the kind of moments that send fan token activity into overdrive.
