Kraken’s World Cup deal puts crypto at centre field

Kraken has become the official crypto exchange supporter of the FIFA World Cup, just as crypto prediction markets tied to the tournament have already processed more than US$2 billion in wagers.

Instead of traditional bets, fans are trading tokenised outcomes on blockchain platforms, buying and selling “shares” in match results that can be flipped before the final whistle.

But with memories of FTX’s sports‑sponsorship collapse still fresh and FIFA selling pricey “Right to Buy” tokens that only secure the chance to purchase tickets, regulators are under pressure to decide how long this kind of crypto‑sport crossover can grow before stricter rules arrive.