Swyftx signs major sponsorship deal with Aussie National Rugby League

cointelegraph.com:

Brisbane-based crypto exchange Swyftx has penned a major three-year sponsorship deal with the Australian National Rugby League (NRL).

Swyftx is registered in Australia and New Zealand and offers trading services for around 300 digital assets. The firm was founded in 2018 and the NRL deal marks another major milestone for promoting the local crypto and blockchain sector to sports fans, with the Australian Football League women’s competition already signing with Crypto.Com for $25 million over five years.

The latest deal will cover NRL, Women’s NRL (NRLW), State of Origin and All-Star games. There is also an option for a fourth-year extension to the end of 2026.

Swyftx’s branding is set to be featured on LED signage in stadiums and virtually via TV broadcasts, while its name will also be displayed on the NRL's in-game review and decision board which is set to be named the “Swyftx Bunker” in 2023.

Swyftx CEO Ryan Parsons told Cointelegraph that Australia is “witnessing an almost overnight mainstreaming of crypto” as he emphasized the significance of the deal:

Questioned on why crypto exchanges such as Swyftx, Crypto.com and FTX actively seek out sporting partnerships, Parsons outlined that the “mass appeal of sport means it’s a hugely important way for exchanges to announce themselves” and obtain mainstream recognition from the traditional finance sector.

“Exchanges are effectively saying that ‘we’re here and we’re supporting people to embrace new technologies and opportunities,’” he said.

Related: Crypto at the Olympics: NFT skis, Bitcoin bobsledders and CBDC controversy

Moving forward in 2022, Parsons stated that he expects the crypto sector to take market share from banks and traditional finance :

The CEO stated that crypto