Pickleball Tournament in Santa Monica Set to Award $5,000 in Bitcoin to Players

Ready to drop and drive for crypto? Well, you're about to have your chance.

A non-profit organization in California is offering a $5,000 prize pool in Bitcoin for an upcoming tournament, marking a significant moment for both pickleball and cryptocurrency enthusiasts.

The tournament is scheduled for October 18 in Santa Monica, California, as part of the Peer to Pier Bitcoin Festival. With pickleball’s global rise in popularity, it's no surprise that events like this are springing up more frequently. The sport’s accessibility, coupled with its fast-paced action, has drawn a diverse range of players. In fact, many believe it won’t be long before pickleball surpasses other traditional sports in popularity.

A First for Pickleball and Bitcoin

This Santa Monica event will be the first time players are rewarded with Bitcoin, with a total of $5,000 up for grabs. While large prize pools are not uncommon in pickleball, cryptocurrency as a reward is groundbreaking. As part of the prize package, participants will also receive Bitcoin hardware wallet devices from CoinKite, providing players with secure ways to store their digital winnings.

The event is hosted by the Santa Monica-based non-profit Proof of Workforce Foundation in partnership with Fold, a Bitcoin financial services company, and Pickle Pop. According to Dom Bei, founder of Proof of Workforce, the tournament aims to unite two fast-growing communities—Bitcoiners and pickleballers—while supporting the creative use of commercial space in Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade.

“This will be an incredible event, bringing together two talented and high-growth communities to support creative re-use of commercial space,” Bei stated.

Pickleball’s Growing Popularity

Pickleball’s rise isn't just limited to grassroots play—it's making waves at the professional level too. Recently, Anna Leigh Waters, the world's highest-earning pickleball player, shared that she expects to earn nearly $3 million through a combination of tournament winnings and endorsements.

With prize pools growing and tournaments popping up worldwide, it’s clear that the sport’s reach is expanding rapidly.

A New Era for Santa Monica

This isn’t the first time the Proof of Workforce Foundation has made waves in Santa Monica. They previously partnered with the City of Santa Monica to establish the Santa Monica Bitcoin Office, the first of its kind in any U.S. city. This latest venture further solidifies the organization’s commitment to innovation and creative community-building.

Who knows, if this goes well, we might build our own cryptocurrency. Who's ready to invest in DinkCoin?