G2 Esports dismantled Xi Lai Gaming in the Upper Quarterfinals of Valorant Masters London 2026, taking the series 2-0 with a 13-7 win on Lotus and a ruthless 13-1 showing on Ascent. The match, played on June 13, 2026, ended XLG’s run in the London bracket of the VCT 2026 season.
But beyond the scoreboard, something else was notable about the broadcast and surrounding coverage: the near-total absence of crypto branding at one of the year’s biggest esports events.
The match itself was barely competitive
Xi Lai Gaming picked Lotus as their preferred map. G2 took Lotus 13-7, a comfortable margin that never really suggested XLG was in contention. Ascent was a different story entirely, and not in XLG’s favor. G2 turned the second map into a masterclass, winning 13-1. XLG now faces early elimination from the London bracket.
Where did all the crypto logos go?
G2 Esports have a partnership with Betpanda, a crypto-based betting platform. But across the broader match coverage, team profiles, and event branding for Masters London, crypto was essentially invisible.
This is a sharp contrast to 2022 and 2023, when crypto exchanges and NFT platforms were among the most aggressive spenders in esports sponsorship. FTX had its name on major league partnerships. Coinbase was sponsoring events.
That said, the connection hasn’t vanished entirely. Betting markets on platforms including Coinbase and Kalshi featured Valorant fixtures involving G2 and Xi Lai Gaming, with volumes reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What this means for crypto’s esports play
G2’s partnership with Betpanda targets a specific demographic: competitive gaming fans who are already comfortable with crypto wallets and digital asset transactions.