KU basketball will wear cryptocurrency jersey patch on uniforms next season
For what is believed to be the first time ever in college athletics, there will be a cryptocurrency patch on the jerseys of a major college program.
The Kansas Jayhawks announced a patch sponsorship with digital finance company Ripple on Wednesday morning. Through the agreement, the Jayhawks will sport XRP Cryptocurrency patches on every Kansas Athletics jersey, including for the KU men’s basketball team.
“This era of college athletics demands innovative, forward-thinking partnerships,” said Travis Goff, KU’s athletic director, in a news release. “Ripple recognizes the unique reach and passion of the Jayhawk community, and we’re proud they have chosen Kansas Athletics as a premier platform to introduce XRP to millions of sports fans. Having the XRP logo displayed on our Jayhawk uniforms reflects a shared commitment to innovation and excellence.”
A source in the KU athletic department told The Star the jersey sponsorship comes with a “significant” NIL contribution.
The Jayhawks also announced this will be a “multiyear” partnership.
This announcement was made just one day after the Big 12 Conference announced its teams will wear Monster Energy patches on their jerseys. There will also be Monster Energy logos on Big 12 fields and courts.
Jersey patches have only recently become the norm across college athletics. The NCAA approved jersey patches in January, but schools can’t officially add them to jerseys until August 1.
According to that ruling, all Division I teams will be permitted up to two commercial logos on their uniforms, each no larger than four square inches.
In recent months, a number of schools have announced patch sponsorships. Some of the notable ones include Arkansas and Tyson Foods, Memphis and FedEx and Wisconsin and Culver’s.
Additionally, several professional teams have added patches and/or sponsorships of cryptocurrency companies, including the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers (Crypto.com). The Los Angeles Lakers’ home stadium is Crypto.com Arena.
Bill Self, Lance Leipold comment on jersey patch
In the release announcing the news, Kansas Athletics included quotes from KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self, football coach Lance Leipold and women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider.
“This is an important day for all of Kansas Athletics, and we are certainly happy to be a part of that,” Self said. “It’s a critical time in college athletics to be bold, and that’s what is being accomplished with today’s announcement. We will make sure our guys understand the significance of the partnership and why it is beneficial for them moving forward.”
“Our football program is excited to proudly display the XRP logo on our jerseys,” Leipold said. “We’re thankful to have such a strong relationship with Ripple through the leadership of CEO and proud Jayhawk, Brad Garlinghouse. We think this is a great partnership between two strong brands with bright futures.”
“We are excited to have our team represent XRP while they are competing as Jayhawks,” Schneider said. “This is a great time for student-athletes to be at Kansas, and today’s announcement is another indication of that. Our department is always looking for ways to innovate and be different and that is exciting to be part of. We are thankful for the partnership with XRP and look forward to much success moving forward.”
This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 7:51 AM.
