Sports forge bonds, break boundaries, and unite people in ways that transcend words. Bitcoin, however, isn’t like a sports team. It doesn’t rely on teamwork in the traditional sense.
It’s permissionless — a decentralized system where anyone can join or leave freely, without gatekeepers. Yet, in Swan Valley, Western Australia, a cricket club is demonstrating that when Bitcoin’s ethos meets cricket’s spirit, the result is nothing short of extraordinary.
Stan, one of the founders of the Bitcoin Cricket Team noted:
“We want to be the first Community Cricket Club that’s been transformed into an international franchise all on the back of a Bitcoin standard. Bitcoin has given so much to us, and we see this as a way to give back to the community.”
Cricket is deeply rooted in tradition, a game of subtlety and strategy that demands patience and long-term thinking. Players spend years perfecting their skills, and those who train consistently over time often outperform those looking for quick wins.
In many ways, it mirrors Bitcoin. As Stan observed, cricket thrives on discipline and perseverance, much like Bitcoin rewards those who adopt a long-term perspective.
Those who save in bitcoin and hold it for the future fare far better than those who trade it in pursuit of short-term fiat gains. Both cricket and Bitcoin emphasize the value of commitment over fleeting opportunities.
This club, however, isn’t just drawing parallels. They’re living it. Players are paid in bitcoin, transactions are settled on the Lightning Network, and the club operates on a Bitcoin-only standard. Stan made it clear this is the Bitcoin Cricket Team — not the Shitcoin Cricket Team.
The club, a decades-old community organization, had always been driven by volunteers and a love for the game.
But Bitcoin offered them a chance to transcend their traditional roots. “We’re a small, traditional club,” Stan said. “But Bitcoin offered us a chance to do something bigger — not just for the club, but for the players and the community.”
This year marks their first as the Bitcoin Cricket Team, and it’s been a year of education and experimentation. “We’re onboarding players and teaching them the fundamentals of Bitcoin,” Stan said.
They partnered with Amber, a local Bitcoin company, to make the transition seamless. The club has also committed to hodling every satoshi they earn. Stan highlighted:
“We’re encouraging our players to adopt Bitcoin not just as payment, but as a philosophy. And to incentivize it, we’ve set our fiat prices higher than Bitcoin payments. If Bitcoin becomes what we believe it will, this reserve could fund that growth.”
The pairing of cricket and Bitcoin might seem unexpected, but to Stan, it’s a perfect fit. Cricket is slow and strategic. Bitcoin’s development is the same — it’s about long-term thinking, not short-term gratification.
The sport’s patience-driven culture resonates with Bitcoin’s proof-of-work ethos. One does not become a professional cricketer overnight, in the same way that bitcoin’s value doesn’t emerge from nothing. Both require effort, conviction, and time.
But Stan and his team aren’t just bringing Bitcoin into cricket. They’re also introducing Bitcoiners to cricket. “Cricket is such a tradition-rich sport. What better way to connect the old with the new?” Stan asked.
The Bitcoin Cricket Team is building more than just a bridge between two worlds. They’re laying the groundwork for a circular Bitcoin economy. “We accept Bitcoin for match fees, beers, and fundraising,” Stan said. “We even pay our coach and players in Bitcoin.”
Stan has a vision that extends beyond just the cricket team.
He wants the Bitcoin Cricket Team to set an example by onboarding hundreds of people to Bitcoin and demonstrating its power. Stan believes that if they can achieve this, it could inspire other cricket teams around the world to follow suit.
The Bitcoin Cricket Team is not simply dreaming big — they are taking bold action. Rather than selling their bitcoin, they are playing the long game, much like the strategy required in the sport of cricket.
Cricket and Bitcoin — one, a centuries-old game of patience and strategy; the other, a modern innovation rooted in freedom and resilience. Together, they’re showing how tradition and technology can work in harmony.
