Friday, October 16, 2026

You’re Out! MLB Umps Drop FTX Patches

  • In November, the league terminated its five-year sponsorship deal with FTX.
  • The cryptocurrency exchange filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy that month.
FTX-MLB
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

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Major League Baseball is the latest entity separating itself from embattled cryptocurrency exchange FTX. 

The first major sports league to secure a deal with a crypto exchange will no longer have its umpires wear an FTX patch on their uniforms after securing a pact with FTX.US last year. 

The decision comes after FTX — along with more than 130 affiliated companies — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Tom Brady accepts Sports Person of the Year award in front of FTX sponsorship

Tom Brady, Shaq Among Those Hit With 2nd FTX Lawsuit

Lawyers seeking class-action status for those who lost billions.
November 21, 2022
  • In January, FTX raised $400 million, valuing the company at $32 billion. 
  • Its deal with MLB made FTX the league’s first-ever umpire uniform patch partner. 
  • FTX branding was displayed across telecasts, MLB.com, and social media.
  • The MLPA also had a deal with FTX, which allowed players to participate in promotions. 

FTX’s bankruptcy caused the Miami Heat and Miami-Dade County to terminate a 19-year, $135 million arena naming rights deal.

The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team also suspended its sponsorship pact with the exchange.

Historic Deal Lost

Esports organization Team SoloMid severed ties with FTX in November. TSM — the most valuable esports company in 2022 at $540 million — was in the second year of a 10-year naming rights deal worth $210 million, the most lucrative sponsorship deal in esports history.

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