eSports
Coinbase becomes BIG main partner in multi-million dollar deal
Leading global crypto platform Coinbase expands partnership with BIG and acquires main-partner rights in one the of the largest esport club deals within Europe.
Following a productive collaboration that started in August 2021, Coinbase has now become the main partner of Germany’s most successful CS:GO team.
As part of the multi-million dollar deal, Coinbase has acquired main partner rights to BIG’S CS:GO department as well as an extensive media rights package that includes a main-partner position on BIG’s official player jersey. Together with Coinbase, BIG will continue to do a wide variety of activations including community events, tournaments and money-can’t-buy fan experiences.
The deal comes following the multi-million dollar acquisition of membership slots in both the BLAST Premier and ESL Pro League circuits, indicating the attractiveness of these elite leagues to partners. As a partner team, BIG will continue competing in these circuits for the long-term future, continuing with the BLAST Premier Spring Final in Lisbon this Summer.
BIG’s CS:GO players will already wear the new jersey at their upcoming events, with multiple large LAN championships on the horizon for the team. The deal itself was facilitated by SPORTFIVE, to whom we are exceptionally thankful for their excellent cooperation!
Statement Daniel Finkler, CEO
The extension of the partnership with Coinbase as the new BIG CS:GO Main Partner is a significant milestone for our organization. The financial scope of the partnership demonstrates that the acquisition of the BLAST Premier and ESL Pro League Partner Slots in 2021 proved to be the best decision we could have made. Together with Coinbase, we will compete in the largest and most prestigious esports competitions globally.
It honors me a lot that we were able to win the world’s leading crypto platform as a long-term partner. Over the past few years, Coinbase has become a market leader in the rapidly growing and extremely exciting crypto market. As the main partner, Coinbase will contribute significantly to the further development and growth of Berlin International Gaming. Jointly, we have developed a very comprehensive rights package that will also be visually reflected on our channels. Additionally, Coinbase will have the main partner slot on the official BIG CS:GO Jersey. I am very grateful for the trust in BIG and look forward to working with Chris Grundy and the Coinbase team. A big thank you also goes to SPORTFIVE for the excellent cooperation and facilitation of one of the largest esport deals in the DACH region!
Statement Coinbase
“BIG has been a fantastic partner since summer 2021,” says Sascha Rangoonwala, Country Manager Germany at Coinbase. “This partnership with Germany’s leading eSports organisation, BIG, has proven to help us better reach digital natives and educate them about the benefits and risks of cryptocurrencies. That’s why we’ve now deepened the partnership and look forward to driving the awareness and adoption of crypto assets in Germany together.”
Eike Gyllensvärd, President Esports at SPORTFIVE:
„We are beyond excited to be able to bring together such two strong brands and further develop their partnership going forward. This announcement is a testament to the deep industry experience and esports expertise that SPORTFIVE offers to rights-holders and brands alike.”
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blacklyte
Team Vitality names Blacklyte as new gaming chair partner
Team Vitality has partnered with Blacklyte as its new gaming chair partner, with a rollout planned across the organisation’s teams and physical locations.
Under the agreement, Blacklyte chairs and desks will be deployed across Team Vitality rosters including CS2, Rocket League, VALORANT, LEC, LFL, Rising Bees, Tekken 8, Teamfight Tactics, and Age of Empires II. The equipment will also be installed at facilities including the club’s Paris headquarters (V.Hive), its locations at the Stade de France, and in Berlin.
The companies said the partnership will include co-design work on a “new generation of chairs and desks” aimed at improving playing environments. A co-branded Blacklyte x Team Vitality product line is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2026.
“We are very happy to collaborate with Blacklyte and welcome them to Team Vitality’s partner family. This partnership comes at a historic time for the club on Counter-Strike, alongside the arrival of new flagship rosters, and more broadly reflects our ambition to keep raising our standards in both performance and innovation. Together, we are building environments that enable our players to fully express their potential at the highest level,” explains Vas Roberts, Co-CEO of Team Vitality.
“Team Vitality is one of the most respected names in global esports, and we are excited to collaborate to create this new era of gaming furniture. We will develop a new gaming ecosystem that empowers Team Vitality athletes to train in setups that enhance their playstyles while being supported and stylish,” says Blacklyte CEO Alex Liu. “Blacklyte products have always been at the forefront of redefining performance equipment in esports, and this partnership is a natural step to continue that mission.”
The post Team Vitality names Blacklyte as new gaming chair partner appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Team Vitality partners with Team Havok to expand in Fortnite
Team Vitality has signed a strategic partnership with French Fortnite esports club Team Havok, expanding its footprint in the title as part of its broader diversification strategy. The announcement was made this weekend.
Under the deal, Team Havok will compete as “Team Havok by Vitality” and wear a co-branded jersey featuring Team Vitality’s logo. Team Vitality said the partnership is designed to combine its performance and organisational support with Team Havok’s Fortnite competitive presence.
Team Havok’s recent results cited by the organisations include winning European Major 2 in 2025, finishing runner-up at the World Championship, and ranking as the second-best European team. The duo Tjino and PabloWingu have qualified for this summer’s Esports World Cup and will compete in Team Vitality’s black and yellow colours.
Team Vitality also positioned the partnership as a fan development play in France via co-streaming, content creation, and influencer-led activations. Team Havok co-founders and streamers ZetFar and WaZz were highlighted for their reach with younger audiences.
The organisation said the tie-up follows prior structural collaborations including PSG Esports and Bigetron Esports, and could expand into Fortnite map development, exclusive merchandising, and influencer marketing. “This partnership with Team Havok reflects our ambition to work with the best in order to continue growing Team Vitality. Their performance, creativity, and ability to engage the French community make them an ideal partner,” said Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and Co-founder of Team Vitality. “We are incredibly proud to join Team Vitality. This collaboration with such a prestigious organisation marks a new milestone in the story we are building with our community,” said Grimz, caster at Team Havok.
The post Team Vitality partners with Team Havok to expand in Fortnite appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Esports Foundation Appoints More Than 700 Game Coaches for the Inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026
The Esports Foundation (EF) has confirmed the appointment of over 700 game coaches representing the National Team Partners (NTPs) from more than 100 nations and territories for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), the global nation-based esports competition set to debut in Riyadh from November 2-29, 2026. The announcement marks the start of team roster selections, due by May 10, with coaches now responsible for identifying players, defining team strategy and building competitive lineups.
Drawn from more than 90 leading esports organisations across the globe, the group of coaches spans world champions, established leaders and rising stars building local scenes, connecting team development directly to the highest level of global competition. The list of National Team Coaches is available on the ENC website.
The coaching pool, from seasoned veterans who have faced each other on the biggest stages to a new generation of coaches looking to make their mark, reflects the breadth of global esports. In League of Legends, LEC stalwart and G2 Esports coach Dylan Falco (Canada) will take on rising coaching stars like Quentin “Zeph” Viguié (France) and Jonas “Memento” Elmarghichi (Morocco). In Rocket League, the Netherlands’ Jos “ViolentPanda” van Meurs brings a world-championship legacy, while the youngest coach in the field, Abdulrahman Saad “d7oom-24” Bin Fayez, age 22, will lead a strong contender in Saudi Arabia.
Fans will also see international appointments across borders, including Swedish legend Fabian “Fabian” Hällsten coaching the United States’ Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege team alongside Brazil’s Guilherme “gohaN” Alf coaching Indonesia.
The appointments also highlight a growing group of women coaches who will be shaping teams throughout the world. In PUBG MOBILE, Camila “Mia” López (Chile), a professional manager, analyst and coach, brings experience from the global mobile circuit, while Nikol “Kehayoyo” Kehayova will look to lead Poland. In other game titles, Sabrina “SYA” Starke (Germany) heads up Honor of Kings and Angela “Kaylio” Sun Zhou (Australia) steps in for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, while in VALORANT Felicia “Felly” Cersac (Moldova) and Syeda “Skel” Samman (Pakistan) will lead teams from emerging esports markets.
“The Esports Nations Cup is being built step by step, and appointing team coaches is the next critical layer in that structure. If teams are what make esports intuitive for a mainstream audience, coaches are what make them credible for players and fans. They bring identity, direction, and standards to each team. With more than 700 coaches now in place across over 100 National Team Partners, we’re turning the idea of nation-based competition into something people can understand instantly and believe in — a system that is structured, real, and ready to perform on the world stage,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation.
Coaches from the remaining nations and territories, including the ones without an NTP, will be announced at a later date. Attention now turns to finalising player selections, as teams take shape ahead of the ENC’s global qualification pathway. Competitors in solo-player games as well as in the remaining team-based titles will be identified through full open qualifiers, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.
The ENC introduces nation-based competition to the global esports calendar in a structured and recurring format. By enabling nations and territories to organise teams, develop talent pathways and compete on a global stage, the ENC creates new opportunities for players while strengthening connections between local ecosystems and international competition.
The post Esports Foundation Appoints More Than 700 Game Coaches for the Inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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