Coinbase will pay for its new sports partnership with World Team Tennis (WTT) entirely in USDC, a stablecoin backed one-to-one by the U.S. dollar. The crypto exchange was named the league's Presenting Partner on Nov. 11, 2026, in an announcement made via press release from New York.

The agreement covers WTT's upcoming 47th season, which is scheduled to begin Dec. 1 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It links one of the largest U.S. crypto platforms with a professional tennis league that has spent five decades developing a team-based, mixed-gender format.

A Sponsorship Settled in Stablecoin

According to the announcement, the decision to fund the deal in USDC follows the pattern of Coinbase's earlier partnership agreements. The release did not disclose the financial terms of the arrangement.

USDC is designed to pair the stability of a traditional currency with the speed and openness of a blockchain. Each token in circulation is backed by one U.S. dollar. In practical terms, that means WTT's sponsorship income arrives as blockchain tokens rather than a conventional cash settlement.

The two organizations described the stablecoin payment as an early sign of plans ahead. They said they intend to look for new ways to bring technology into both the competition itself and the overall fan experience as the partnership develops. The most concrete elements of that ambition — the digital coin toss and the real-time broadcast features — are set to become visible once play begins Dec. 1.

$COIN – World Team Tennis Names Coinbase as Presenting Partner
World Team Tennis Names Coinbase as Presenting Partner — PR Newswire, NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — World Team Tennis (WTT) today announced Coinbase as its Presenting Partner for the league's…
— Market Wire News (@marketwirenews) November 11, 2026

A Digital Spin on an Old Ritual

Coinbase will also update one of tennis's oldest habits. Inside the arena, the pre-match coin toss will switch from a physical coin to a digital one, replacing a procedure that has been carried out in the same way for more than a century. The ritual carries competitive weight, too: in tennis, the toss determines who serves first and from which end, making the digital version one of the most visible markers of the partnership once matches are underway.

Beyond the on-court ritual, the exchange said it will open premium in-arena experiences to a wider group of fans and help shape how viewers follow the matches from home. Coinbase said the deal deepens its presence in the sports world.

Where Fans Can Watch

WTT matches will air live on CNBC, the U.S. business news network, and stream for free on Fandango. Fans outside the U.S. and Canada will be able to watch live at no cost on the league's YouTube channel.

Each broadcast will include real-time technology features built with a digital audience in mind. The league said the goal of these features is to bring viewers closer to the action, whether they are watching on television or streaming online.

Both sides said they also plan to keep ticket prices accessible throughout the season, with the stated aim of reaching as many fans as possible.

Two Large Audiences

The partnership links two large communities. The release cited an estimated 1 billion tennis fans worldwide and said about one in four adults in the U.S. and Canada own crypto — figures that give the deal both a mainstream sports audience and a sizable base of people already familiar with digital assets.

WTT CEO Stephen Amritraj said he has used Coinbase for the past decade, and that the two companies share values of access, fairness, transparency and trust.

“We’re at the beginning of that path, and we couldn’t ask for a better partner as we begin a new era of World Team Tennis,” Amritraj said.

Coinbase Chief Marketing Officer Cat Ferdon called WTT one of the most exciting leagues to watch right now. She said the two companies share a mission of widening access — whether to tennis or to economic freedom. She added that the company aims to make the game more interactive for both new and existing tennis fans.

League and Exchange Background

WTT was founded in 1974 and introduced mixed-gender team competition to professional tennis. The league now operates under new ownership with a primetime format that mixes top-level tennis with entertainment.

Coinbase, listed on the Nasdaq, is building what it describes as the Everything Exchange. The platform lets users trade and manage crypto alongside stocks, derivatives and prediction markets.

Tickets and season details are available on the league's website, wtt.com. The 47th season opens in Brooklyn on Dec. 1. From there, the partnership's early promises — a digitized coin toss, tech-forward broadcasts and accessible tickets — move from announcement to on-court reality.

This article originally appeared on Blockonomi.