The Link between esports and cryptocurrency usage is strong

 It has long made a certain sense that eSports and cryptocurrency might form a valuable partnership. Basically, this is because both got trendy around the same general time period, as well as because to some extent there is overlap between the interested demographics. It is often younger, more tech-savvy crowds that are particularly enthusiastic about both eSports and cryptocurrency however this is not to say that other age groups are not included.

Since the initial excitement surrounding both eSports and cryptocurrency, a connection between gaming and bitcoin has actually sprouted. Indeed, UNLOCK wrote sometime back about Ubisoft - one of the biggest companies in the gaming business these days exploring blockchain use cases. To be clear this specific example seems to have nothing to do with bitcoin so much as just blockchain tech, but it still speaks to the natural link between certain aspects of the gaming and fintech worlds. It could also conceivably open the door to game developers dealing in cryptocurrency, or accepting it for game purchases. 

More directly, we actually have seen bitcoin directly used in game purchasing in certain instances, which could be something of a model for eSports. The practice has been most regular in online and mobile casino gaming.This is especially apparent in mobile casino gaming. Sites in this category tend to offer a variety of payment methods, and also pitch new player welcome bonuses in order to make people as comfortable as possible signing up and making deposits. In recent years though, crypto payments (primarily bitcoin) have also been used to make potential gamers comfortable. Their addition to lists of payment options  it gives people one more secure choice. 

Sites in this category tend to offer a variety of payment methods, in order to make people as comfortable as possible signing up and making deposits. In recent years though, crypto payments (primarily bitcoin) have also been used to make potential gamers comfortable. Their addition to lists of payment options gives people one more secure choice.

An even more high-profile example comes from Microsoft, which has for quite some time now allowed bitcoin payments for some of its digital content, which includes video game downloads for Xbox devices. It’s perhaps the best example we have of a straightforward use of bitcoin to buy games, and possibly the best indicator for how this could work in the future.

Altogether the above connections do paint the picture of a broader gaming community that’s more comfortable with cryptocurrency than most major industries. This, coupled with some of the aforementioned, natural connections between eSports and cryptocurrency enthusiasts, sets the stage for a partnership. And indeed, we’ve now started to hear about just that.

A recent article at Bitcoin.com declared the future of eSports could be tied to cryptocurrency. Right off the bat the article cited a “young, passionate and tech-savvy global audience” as a reason for eSports sharing similarities with cryptocurrency. It also noted some smaller, emerging gaming avenues that sell tokens for cryptocurrency, and which have attracted gamers as famous and influential as Pewdiepie. Most of all though, the article simply noted that eSports and cryptocurrency both represent “the natural way of things,” in terms of progress toward more digital entertainment and finance.

We’ll expect more specific links between the two entities to emerge in time. Right now though all of the above is pointing toward close ties as eSports and cryptocurrency both expand and evolve.