# X Games Athletes to Receive Signing Bonuses in Exodus’ XO Cash Stablecoin

> X Games athletes drafted into the MoonPay XGL will receive $2,500 signing bonuses in Exodus’ XO Cash stablecoin, instantly deposited into their crypto wallets.

By Lidia Yadlos · March 12, 2026

Canonical: https://blockster.com/x-games-athletes-to-receive-signing-bonuses-in-exodus-xo-cash-stablecoin

_Crypto is making its way into professional sports in a new way. Athletes selected in the inaugural MoonPay X Games League (XGL) Summer Draft will receive signing bonuses paid in XO Cash ($XO) — a new USD-backed stablecoin from Exodus._

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The initiative marks one of the earliest examples of professional athletes receiving signing bonuses in stablecoins, highlighting the growing intersection between digital assets and athlete compensation.

## Stablecoin Bonuses for Drafted Athletes

[Under the program](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/exodus-brings-crypto-signing-bonuses-to-moonpay-x-games-league-summer-draft-302712394.html?tc=eml_cleartime), 40 drafted athletes will each receive $2,500 in XO Cash, instantly deposited into their Exodus Wallets. XO Cash is a fully reserved USD-backed stablecoin issued and managed by MoonPay and built on M0’s open stablecoin infrastructure.

[Post from @moonpay on X](https://twitter.com/moonpay/status/2032092781959921765?s=20)

Alongside the signing bonus, athletes will also receive a custom MoonPay XGL Exodus Card, connected directly to their [Exodus accounts](https://www.exodus.com/pay/join), allowing them to spend their funds anywhere in the world.

JP Richardson, CEO and Co-Founder of Exodus, said the move reflects how athletes increasingly need global payment tools.

> “We’re giving athletes greater flexibility in how they receive and manage their money,” Richardson said. “Athletes have global careers and they need payments that work across borders just like they do.”

## A New Era for the X Games

The signing bonuses are part of the launch of the [MoonPay X Games League](https://www.xgames.com/news/x-games-and-moonpay-announce-landmark-title-partnership/), a new format designed to transform the X Games from standalone competitions into a team-based global league.

[Post from @moonpay on X](https://twitter.com/moonpay/status/2032111788985368997?s=20)

The league introduces structured salaries, benefits, and season-long competition for athletes — bringing a more traditional sports league model to action sports. The **Summer Draft**, taking place March 12, 2026, is the first step in that transition.

Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO and Founder of [MoonPay](https://www.moonpay.com/), said the partnership reflects the shared spirit of innovation between crypto and action sports.

> “We partnered with the X Games because they’re doing to sports what crypto is doing to finance — challenging legacy systems and building something entirely new,” he said.

## Building Payments on Stablecoin Infrastructure

XO Cash will also serve as a liquidity layer for [Exodus Pay](https://www.exodus.com/), a self-custodial payments platform expected to launch in Q2.

The platform aims to enable users to send instant payments, spend funds with a card, earn rewards, and access everyday financial tools while maintaining control of their assets through self-custody.

The athlete signing bonuses represent an early real-world use case for that system.

## Crypto and Sports Continue to Converge

Earlier this year at X Games Aspen, MoonPay matched snowboarder Mark McMorris’ gold medal winnings in crypto, making him the first X Games athlete to receive prize money in digital assets.

[Post from @moonpay on X](https://twitter.com/moonpay/status/2031716622918938710?s=20)

The Summer Draft initiative builds on that experiment — pushing crypto further into the financial infrastructure behind professional sports.

As digital assets continue to move into real-world payments, initiatives like this could signal how stablecoins and self-custodial wallets may eventually reshape how athletes are paid and manage their earnings globally.