Crypto firm to sponsor One NZ Warriors

Swyftx has signed on as a sponsor of the One NZ Warriors, in New Zealand’s first cryptocurrency sponsorship of a professional sports team.

The three-year partnership includes branding rights, corporate hospitality, player appearances and reserved tickets for every NRL home game at Go Media Stadium that Swyftx will make available to fans across a range of activities.

Brisbane-based Swyftx, which acquired NZ’s largest digital assets platform Easy Crypto earlier this year, says the deal is the first in a planned multimillion-dollar spend over the next two years to support the New Zealand sports sector.

Partnership a natural fit

Swyftx chief executive Jason Titman says the Warriors were a natural fit for the company’s first New Zealand sponsorship.

“The Warriors are one of the country’s most recognised sporting brands and they represent passion, resilience and a loyal fan base. That kind of connection with the community was exactly what we were looking for in a partner. We are also in discussion with other sporting codes as part of our expansion plans.

“There is a natural overlap between the energy of sport and crypto. Both are fast-moving spaces, and our research shows a strong connection between sports fans and digital asset investors.”

Reflecting One New Zealand Warriors’ ambition to innovate

One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George says the partnership reflects the club’s ambition to innovate commercially while adding value for fans.

“We are excited to welcome one of Australasia’s largest digital asset platforms as a partner. This sponsorship will not only provide important financial support for the club but also deliver new experiences and benefits for our members and fans. For us, it is about finding partners who share our commitment to growth and who can bring something new to the table.

“Deals of this scale help us grow our fan base, make the sport more financially accessible for families through initiatives like ticket offers and provide critical funding that can be reinvested into pathways and programmes to grow the sport at every level,” says George.

Titman says with crypto adoption sitting at just 9 to 14 percent in New Zealand compared to 20 to 25 percent in Australia, sport offers a viable pathway for growth.

“Our goal is to lift those numbers significantly, and partnering with sport is one of the most effective ways to do that.”

Integrating international investment into sport

Swyftx country manager Paul Quickenden says the partnership represents a pivotal moment for both the local sporting and digital asset sectors, signalling a major step forward in how New Zealand attracts and integrates international investment into sport.

“This partnership marks the beginning of a new era of investment in New Zealand sport. Until now, crypto sponsorships have largely been confined to overseas markets, and we are changing that by bringing the same level of international energy and innovation to local codes.

“There is a significant opportunity for New Zealand sport to benefit from the scale of global digital asset investment. These partnerships can help unlock new revenue streams, strengthen fan engagement and ensure our professional and grassroots programmes are competing on a level playing field with the rest of the world. What we are seeing is the start of a long-term alignment between emerging technology and New Zealand’s sporting economy.”

Titman says the company has also committed to supporting women’s sports, building on its track record of backing female athletes in Australia.