Crypto payments company MoonPay is bringing digital assets into the world of action sports by offering stablecoin signing bonuses to athletes drafted into the new MoonPay X Games League (XGL). The initiative marks one of the earliest examples of professional athletes receiving part of their compensation in stablecoins.
Under the program, 40 athletes selected in the league’s inaugural Summer Draft will each receive a $2,500 signing bonus, paid in XO Cash, a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin developed by crypto wallet provider Exodus in partnership with MoonPay.
The funds will be deposited directly into the athletes’ Exodus self-custody wallets, giving them immediate control over their earnings and the ability to spend or transfer them globally.
Stablecoins Enter the World of Sports Compensation
The bonuses will be paid in XO Cash ($XO), a fully reserved stablecoin designed to maintain a one-to-one value with the U.S. dollar. The token is built on M0’s open stablecoin infrastructure and is intended to function as a payment layer for Exodus’ upcoming financial platform, Exodus Pay, which is expected to launch later this year.
Athletes will also receive a MoonPay XGL Exodus payment card linked to their wallet accounts, allowing them to spend their stablecoin balances anywhere traditional card networks such as Visa or Mastercard are accepted.
Executives involved in the initiative say the approach is designed to help athletes—especially international competitors—receive payments more quickly and access funds across borders without relying on traditional banking platforms.
A New Era for the X Games
The stablecoin bonus program is tied to the launch of the MoonPay X Games League, a new team-based competition structure designed to transform the X Games from standalone events into a season-long global league.
Under the new format, athletes will receive salaries, benefits, and structured compensation, replacing the previous model where competitors often relied solely on prize winnings.
MoonPay became the title partner of the X Games League in a multi-year deal, positioning the crypto payments company at the center of the league’s financial infrastructure and fan engagement strategy.
Crypto’s Growing Role in Professional Sports
The signing bonuses are part of a broader push by MoonPay to integrate crypto payments and digital assets into sports culture. Earlier this year, the company also matched a gold medal prize for snowboarder Mark McMorris in cryptocurrency, marking another milestone in athlete compensation using digital assets.
Industry observers say initiatives like this could serve as an early example of how stablecoins might be used for salaries, prize money, and sponsorship payouts in global sports leagues.
