The Esports World Cup 2026 wrapped up in Paris on July 12 with Nongshim RedForce taking down BBL Esports 13-10 on Breeze in the third-place decider. But the bigger story for crypto markets is what was plastered across the broadcast: Coinbase and Bitget logos, marking the first time cryptocurrency companies have sponsored the EWC in its history.

The EWC 2026 carries a total prize pool of $75 million across all disciplines, with $2 million allocated specifically to its Valorant segment.

The match and the road to get there

Nongshim RedForce picked Breeze as their map, and it paid off. The Korean roster controlled the server with enough consistency to close things out 13-10 against Turkey’s BBL Esports, securing third…