This spring, one of the world’s biggest esports teams sold its naming rights not to a telecom or energy drink—but to a crypto wallet startup that crashed within a month.

A closer look

This spring, one of the world’s biggest esports teams sold its naming rights not to a telecom or energy drink—but to a crypto wallet startup that crashed within a month. Overnight, jerseys, stage banners, and even commentator scripts became outdated. Fans memed it to oblivion before sponsors could react. Behind the humor lies a new risk: the volatile mix of fintech and gaming partnerships means players can win trophies but lose annual funding instantly. Lesson for aspiring pros: diversify income—streaming, merchandise, analytics coaching. In the esports economy, the most resilient champions are those who treat their brand as a portfolio, not a paycheck.