Major sporting[1] events always attract a massive amount of attention across the world and it is encouraging to see cryptocurrencies being integrated into the many aspects of the event.
We’ve seen this happen at the Super Bowl[2] and the Winter Olympics[3] in the past six months, so it’s not surprising that Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are becoming far easier to use in the many industries involved in these major events — from hospitality to gambling.
Football
Every four years the global sporting community feasts on a festival of football at the World Cup, as the world’s most popular sport takes centre stage.
Football, in its current form, was birthed around 1863 in England, but its origins stem from numerous games played throughout history, according to FIFA[4]. Over the past 100 years[5] the game has taken hold in countries around the world, in part due to its simplicity and ease of access.
Given its status as the biggest sport in the world, the FIFA World Cup has inevitably become the most watched sporting event[6] and fans travel the world to support their teams, wherever the tournament is being hosted.
2018 World Cup
The 2018 World Cup[7] is currently underway in Russia, with 11 cities and 12 stadiums playing host to 64 matches during the month-long spectacle.
The country is expecting more than 570,000 international visitors over the duration of the competition — with the influx of foreign tourists also expected to provide a boost to the Russian economy[8].
Travelling tourists provide a need for adequate accommodation and foreign exchange facilities, and this is where cryptocurrencies have come to the forefront at the World Cup.
