Crypto.com announced that it had become the official cryptocurrency and non-interchangeable token (NFT) sponsor for the IIHF main event in 2021 and 2022.

The next World Championship will take place from Friday (21 May) to 6 June in the capital city of Riga, Latvia, while the 2022 edition will take place in Finland.

It is claimed that IIHF will be the first international federation with world championships supported by cryptocurrency and NXT platforms.

“IIHF has always been about pushing the boundaries of what is possible on and off the ice, and we are excited to partner with Crypto.com,” said IIHF President René Vasil.

“NXT has already got a role in the game, but we are excited to become the first international sports association to fully understand how they can add value to a range of famous and emerging players in ice hockey. “

Founded in 2016, Crypto.com calls itself the fastest growing cryptocurrency app with more than 10 million users worldwide.

“We are proud to partner with well-known brands such as Nike and Tissot to support the IIHF World Cup, which is watched by millions of fans in Europe and North America,” said Chris Marsalik, Co-founder and CEO of Crypto. .com.

“These are the latest in a series of exciting sports partnerships where we collaborate on NXT to bring together the best blockchain technology and games that are sure to become instant classics and desirable collectibles.”

NXT is a unique digital token that can be bought and sold, but does not have its own unique form.

The World Cup will have two groups of eight teams, and the first group will be Republic of China, Sweden, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovakia, Denmark, Belarus and the United Kingdom.

Group B includes hosts Latvia, defending champions Finland, Canada, the US, Germany, Norway, Italy and Kazakhstan.

Latvia was confirmed as the sole host country for the tournament in February after Belarus withdrew its right to co-host.