Coinbase Expands into Esports with Riot Games Partnership

Coinbase, a leading U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange, has announced a groundbreaking long-term partnership with Riot Games, the developer of popular titles such as League of Legends and Valorant. This collaboration marks a significant step for Coinbase into the esports industry, leveraging Riot Games’ massive global audience. The partnership will debut with a Valorant esports event in Toronto in June 2025, featuring branded content, in-broadcast advertisements, and interactive viewer rewards. This strategic move highlights Coinbase’s commitment to expanding its reach beyond traditional finance into the rapidly growing esports and gaming sectors.

Coinbase Partners with Riot Games for Global Esports Sponsorship

Coinbase, the U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange, has forged a long-term partnership with Riot Games, the developer behind blockbuster titles like League of Legends and Valorant. The collaboration kicks off with a Valorant esports event in Toronto slated for June 2025.

The deal integrates Coinbase into Riot’s esports ecosystem through branded content, in-broadcast advertisements, and interactive viewer rewards. Two new segments—"Econ Report" for Valorant and "Gold Grind" for League of Legends—will debut as part of the sponsorship package. Fans can expect redeemable digital collectibles and sweepstakes for premium event experiences.

While financial terms remain undisclosed, the alliance signals Coinbase’s strategic push into Web3-enabled entertainment. The exchange seeks to bridge crypto adoption with gaming’s massive audience—a demographic increasingly receptive to digital asset integration.

NY Attorney General Sought SEC Declaration on ETH as Security During KuCoin Case

New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ office pressed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to formally classify Ethereum’s ether (ETH) as a security during last year’s enforcement action against crypto exchange KuCoin. The revelation comes from SEC documents obtained by Coinbase through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Shamiso Maswoswe, head of the AG’s Investor Protection Bureau, explicitly requested SEC intervention in the KuCoin litigation via an amicus brief supporting the security designation. "We would like to request that the SEC file an amicus in support of the argument that Ether is a security," Maswoswe wrote in the disclosed communication.

The regulatory gambit underscores the escalating jurisdictional tensions surrounding cryptocurrency classification. While the SEC ultimately declined to file the brief, the correspondence reveals state regulators’ strategic efforts to leverage federal securities laws in crypto enforcement actions.

Coinbase Faces Earnings Pressure Amid Retail Trading Slowdown

Coinbase Global Inc. braces for a challenging first-quarter earnings report as analysts predict declining revenue and trading volumes. Wall Street forecasts earnings per share to drop to $1.93 from $2.26 last quarter, with revenue expected to fall to $2.1 billion. The crypto exchange’s retail segment—its most profitable business line—shows particular weakness.

Trading volume projections sit at $403.8 billion, down from $439 billion in Q4 2023. J.P. Morgan slashed its EPS estimate to $1.59, citing a 10% decline in trading activity. The earnings miss would mark a stark contrast to last year’s Q1 performance, when Coinbase reported $4.40 EPS on $1.2 billion revenue.