The University of Kansas is set to announce a groundbreaking five-year partnership with digital finance company Ripple that will place XRP cryptocurrency jersey patches on uniforms across all Jayhawks athletic programs, according to Sports Business Journal.
The agreement is reportedly one of the most lucrative jersey patch deals in college sports history, underscoring the growing commercialization of college athletics in the NIL and revenue-sharing era. Financial terms have not been disclosed, but sources indicate the deal ranks among the richest patch sponsorships to date. Ripple and its XRP cryptocurrency will receive branding across Kansas Athletics beyond the uniforms, including venue signage, digital platforms, and other marketing assets.
The partnership was facilitated through Kansas athletic director Travis Goff’s relationship with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, a Kansas graduate and former student body president. In addition to the jersey patches, Ripple will support financial literacy and technology education initiatives for student-athletes while also creating internship and career opportunities for Kansas graduates.
The announcement comes just one day after the Big 12 Conference unveiled its conference-wide partnership with Monster Energy, allowing schools to continue pursuing their own jersey patch agreements alongside the league’s sponsorship.
As college athletics continues to explore new revenue streams, Kansas’ agreement with Ripple could become a blueprint for future partnerships between universities and companies in the digital finance and cryptocurrency space.
