Athletes entering the new MoonPay X Games League will be paid a little differently this season.

Following the inaugural XGL Summer Draft, 40 selected athletes will receive signing bonuses paid in XO Cash, a USD-backed stablecoin issued through a partnership between MoonPay and Exodus.

Each athlete will be awarded $2,500 in XO Cash, deposited directly into their Exodus Wallets. The move marks one of the first instances of professional athletes receiving signing bonuses in a stablecoin rather than traditional currency.

XO Cash is designed to function as a fully reserved, USD-backed digital asset, giving athletes immediate access to funds without the delays or limitations that can come with international payments. Alongside the bonus, athletes will also receive a custom MoonPay XGL Exodus Card, allowing them to spend their funds globally.

The initiative builds on earlier experiments during X Games Aspen, where snowboarder Mark McMorris received a crypto-based prize payout. With the launch of the XGL, those ideas are now being applied at a broader scale across the league.

Beyond the technology, the shift reflects a larger change in how action sports are approaching athlete compensation. The MoonPay X Games League introduces salaries, team structures, and expanded earning opportunities, moving away from a system that has historically relied on prize money and sponsorships alone.

The inaugural MoonPay X Games League Summer Season begins June 26, 2026.