Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange, Bybit, has increased its foray into the esports space by entering into a three-year partnership with Russia’s most prestigious esports club, Virtus.pro (VP).
According to a Wednesday press release shared with CryptoPotato, Bybit is now Virtus.Pro’s NFT Partner and exclusive Official Cryptocurrency Platform Partner, backing its formidable DOTA 2 and CS: GO teams.
VP is currently one of the most influential professional gaming clubs in the CIS region, especially in its home country, Russia. It is dominating Russia’s most popular game DOTA 2, with 25.6 million viewing hours in 2020.
As part of the deal, Bybit’s logo will be displayed on branded VP platforms and team jerseys. Additionally, both parties will engage in various impact-driven community initiatives like social causes and inclusive financial education, NFT developments, and player participation in Bybit’s flagship crypto trading competition.
The World Series of Trading (WSOT) 2021 will feature competitions between crypto traders from around the world and top players from each of Bybit’s esports community, including VP, for the ultimate $7.5 million prize.
Speaking on the just-concluded partnership, Bybit’s CEO, Ben Zhou, said,
“Esports is now as much a spectator sport as it’s a participation sport, and WSOT will also be such an occasion for crypto lovers everywhere. We want to build an arena where anyone who believes in crypto and enjoys trading can achieve their personal best.”
To further expand the intersection between the crypto and esports industry, VP will be uploading different digital asset and financial education content on its channels during the partnership.
VP’s CEO, Sergey Glamazda said,
“Both digital financial assets and esports are relatively new industries. Despite their fast growth and the fact that everyone is talking about it, a lot of people may still find it complicated and not easy to understand. We are delighted to have Bybit joining esports with their large-scale projects and proud to be their partners in Russia!”
The crypto exchange has been engaging in different partnerships with several esports organizations, with this latest partnership with VP being the fourth.
Bybit made its first entrance into the esports space via a multi-year collaboration with the Ukrainian esports organization NAVI.
Within the same week, it signed two more deals with other esports teams, including the Swedish independent esports team, Alliance, and Denmark’s sports pride, Astralis.
With the latest addition of VP, Bybit’s name and the crypto industry at large will be spread across to a combined global fanbase of over 28.7 million people, increasing the chances of mainstream crypto adoption.