FIFA World Cup Goes Crypto with Kraken, Avalanche, and Panini

The FIFA World Cup is becoming a stage for cryptocurrencies as it expands its digital asset ecosystem.

FIFA has partnered with Kraken, Avalanche, and Panini to integrate crypto into the tournament. Kraken is an official crypto exchange supporter for North America and Europe, while FIFA Collect, the organization's digital collectibles platform, migrated to the Avalanche blockchain in June 2025.

Avalanche hosts FIFA's official collectible platform, which allows EVM-compatible NFTs to interact with the broader Ethereum ecosystem. Panini is also jumping in with a blockchain-based FOTL (First Off The Line) pack drop scheduled for June 19, 2026.

The World Cup is now showcasing two different crypto landscapes - Ecuador's cautious approach and Curaçao's progressive stance on Bitcoin. In Curaçao, numerous merchants accept Bitcoin, and the jurisdiction imposes no capital gains tax on crypto.