WSOP Paradise players will be able to buy into events with Solana. Alex and Kristen Foxen announced a partnership with the crypto platform Solana and the World Series of Poker, with Alex saying on X that the goal is to make buying into tournaments with crypto smoother, starting at WSOP Bahamas. The festival runs December 2 to 17 at the Baha Mar resort and finishes with the $26,000 Super Main Event and its $50 million guarantee. For crypto users and international players, this could simplify one of live poker's most annoying chores: moving money.
What Was Announced
PokerNews reported on November 7, 2026, that the Foxens, one of poker's best-known couples, are working with Solana and the WSOP. Kristen Foxen, a six-time bracelet winner, said moving money for tournament buy-ins is a common headache for international players and that Solana's work with the WSOP should make crypto buy-ins easier.
This follows the broader WSOP-Solana relationship we covered in our Solana WSOP payments report. The new element here is the player-facing push, with two of the game's top names endorsing the method, and a clear walkthrough of how to use it. Jamie Gold, another Solana ambassador, is quoted making the point that saving time adds value.
How to Pay With Solana Pay at WSOP Paradise
PokerNews lays out the process in seven steps:
- Download the WSOP Live app.
- Create an account.
- Go to the "2026 WSOP Paradise" tab.
- Select an event and tap Register.
- Accept the terms and conditions.
- Choose Solana as the payment method.
- Purchase the tournament ticket.
The article presents the system as a way to avoid lines and fees and notes that, for players grinding full schedules, it could save significant time and money. It also frames it as a way to move large sums across borders.
A few practical considerations for anyone planning to use it:
- Check the wallet and balance first. Crypto transactions are generally irreversible. Confirm the amount and the destination before you approve.
- Mind price volatility. If you hold Solana rather than a stablecoin, the dollar value of your funds can move before you register. Many players convert only what they need shortly before buying in.
- Keep records. Buy-ins, cashes and conversions can have tax implications that depend on where you live. Keep transaction records and consult a qualified adviser. We are not tax advisers.
- Understand the terms. The registration flow includes terms and conditions; read them, particularly around refunds and late registration.
If you want a broader primer on using crypto for poker, our bitcoin poker page, crypto poker guide and payments overview explain the options available online.
Why It Matters: The Money-Movement Problem
Travelling to a live festival means moving money across borders, often in large amounts. Players might deal with bank wires, currency conversion, card limits and cash handling. Kristen Foxen's comment captures the point: for international players, this is a recurring pain. Crypto does not remove all friction, since exchanges and wallets have their own steps, but for players already holding digital assets it can cut out intermediaries.
For the WSOP, offering crypto buy-ins is also a way to widen the funnel for a festival that has grown quickly. Paradise carries a $120 million guarantee across the festival (see our Paradise schedule and guarantees coverage), and the $50 million Super Main Event needs a very large field to cover. A smoother registration experience supports that goal.
The Foxens' Stakes
The partnership comes with a sporting subplot. PokerNews notes the couple's recent results:
- Alex Foxen won his fourth bracelet and $594,246 in the $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty.
- Kristen Foxen won the $25,000 High Roller for $1.7 million, her sixth bracelet, which we covered in her bracelet win report.
The Player of the Year Race
The WSOP Player of the Year race is tight heading into the Bahamas. According to the article:
| Player | Points |
|---|---|
| Shaun Deeb | 3,410 |
| Naoya Kihara | 3,388 |
| Alex Foxen | 3,381 |
The gap between first and third is just 29 points, so strong runs in the Bahamas could change the leaderboard. PokerNews suggests this could help Foxen take the lead and a first WSOP POY title. He has won at WSOP Paradise before: the $100,000 Triton Main Event in 2024 for $3.9 million and his third bracelet. For a deeper look at the standings, see our POY finale preview.
The Bigger Context: Poker and Crypto
Crypto's role in poker has expanded steadily, from offshore sites that accept bitcoin to major live brands integrating payment rails. The WSOP's partnership with Solana is a mainstream-brand example. Online, crypto is already a standard deposit method at several of the sites we review, including BC Poker, the crypto-native room with an Anjouan licence and provably fair dealing, and Americas Cardroom. Our crypto poker hub compares them.
It is important to be balanced: crypto offers speed and cross-border convenience, but it also adds risks such as price swings, wallet security and, in some jurisdictions, regulatory uncertainty. Always check what is legal where you live.
What This Means for Players
If you hold Solana already, test the process early. Download the WSOP Live app, create your account and confirm that your wallet works before you travel. Do not leave it to the last minute before an event closes registration.
Use stablecoins or convert shortly before buying in if you worry about volatility. The article describes Solana Pay as a payment method; how exchange rates are applied is something to confirm in the app.
Plan your Paradise budget. A festival with a $26,000 Main Event is expensive. If you are weighing a trip, see our WSOP schedule page, the WSOP 2026 results page and our guide to bankroll management.
Look for cheaper routes in. Satellites and promotions can lower the cost; see our coverage of the free WSOP Express route and the WSOP Circuit Sanremo schedule, which offers $5,000 Paradise packages to ring winners.
Keep security tight. Use hardware wallets or well-secured apps, and beware of phishing. Official registration happens in the WSOP Live app.
What to Watch
- Adoption. How many players actually use Solana Pay in the Bahamas will indicate whether the method catches on.
- The POY race. With three players within 29 points, results in the first Paradise events will matter.
- Super Main Event turnout. The $50 million guarantee is the festival's headline test.
The partnership is a small but telling sign of where live poker payments are heading. For players who already live in the crypto world, registering for Paradise may soon feel as simple as tapping a phone.