Why US sports fans are betting with crypto this summer – and how Paysafe’s Pay with Crypto works
THIS summer has been one for the books, with the US hosting the majority of World Cup matches – 78 of the 104 in all.
And following the final, attention now turns to the US Open and the NFL preseason and regular season.
Find out more about Paysafe’s Pay with Crypto
With 30-plus states now letting fans bet online, it’s no surprise that a summer of sport on this scale is driving a rise in wagering.
Paysafe found that 62% of fans were planning to wager online on the World Cup alone, with 29% betting for the first time.
Why bettors want to pay with crypto
Appetite for betting wasn’t the only thing we found in our poll of fans.
Those planning to bet are also keen to use the cryptocurrencies and stablecoins they already own to fund their wagers.
And bettors are big on crypto, with roughly two-thirds (64%) owning one or more cryptocurrency or stablecoin, according to our research.
That’s more than double the rate among the average American, Paysafe found, though it’s much what you’d expect given how tech-savvy today’s bettors tend to be.
Given that engagement, it follows that most bettors want to fund wagers with their virtual assets.
Find out more about Paysafe’s Pay with Crypto
More than eight in 10 (83%) told us they’re keen to place bets using Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD Coin or another coin.
So why the draw toward crypto at the cashier, beyond simply owning it?
Two-thirds (67%) think crypto would be faster and more reliable than a credit or bank card, and even more (71%) think it would improve their overall betting experience.
Only a small number of states currently permit crypto payments for betting, though that picture is shifting.
In 2026, Illinois, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Vermont began allowing some sportsbooks to accept crypto deposits, joining Colorado and Wyoming, which have allowed it for several years.
How Paysafe's Pay with Crypto works
With the outlook for crypto in betting improving, Paysafe has built a solution for online sportsbooks, daily fantasy sports (DFS) brands and their customers.
Launched in April, Pay with Crypto is a new payment method at American sportsbooks’ and DFS brands’ cashiers.
Bettors and DFS players who want to fund an account with crypto select Pay with Crypto at the cashier, then connect their crypto or custodial wallet.
Once the transaction is verified, Pay with Crypto instantly converts the deposit into US dollars to fund the player account – and from there they can wager.
Based on our research, crypto is likely to play a growing role in what comes next for online betting.
Beyond the World Cup and this summer, fans’ appetite for betting with crypto looks set to keep rising – and it’s that demand that Paysafe’s Pay with Crypto is built to meet.
Author bio: Zak Cutler is an online gaming executive with a track record in strategy and corporate development. Before joining Paysafe in 2021 to lead its iGaming and video gaming division globally, he worked at Jackpocket, an app for buying US state lottery tickets online, and at DraftKings, where he oversaw product work on payment processing, US compliance and international expansion.
Remember to gamble responsibly. A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
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