The World Cup quarterfinals are here, and as France squares off against Morocco with Kylian Mbappe leading the attack, the ripple effects extend well beyond the pitch. Crypto markets tied to the tournament, from meme coins bearing the striker’s name to NFT platforms where his digital cards trade for five figures, are seeing the kind of volume spikes that make degens and sports fans equally jumpy.
The Mbappe effect on crypto markets
Unauthorized Solana-based meme tokens like $MBAPPE have become a recurring sideshow during major football events. The token peaked at a market cap exceeding $460 million back in August 2024, driven by pure speculative mania tied to the striker’s performances. These tokens carry zero official backing, zero utility, and zero connection to Mbappe himself.
The current quarterfinal matchup has reignited interest in these speculative assets, with trading volumes climbing as the stakes on the pitch get higher.
Sorare, NFTs, and the legitimate side of sports crypto
