The new Lightning partnership will allow Perth Heat fans to scan a QR code after a stolen base and walk home, instantly rewarding them with bitcoins.
The Perth Heat, the most successful baseball team in the Australian Baseball League, has announced a new partnership that rewards fans in bitcoins every time a player from the Perth Heat steals a base or hits a home run.
The partnership with Bitrefill, Satoshi Wallet and IBEX will allow fans to “Steal Sats” by scanning QR codes displayed in game streams or on team social media channels when players make great plays. Fans will receive instant rewards after scanning the code with their Lightning-enabled wallet, introducing a novel fan interaction system that brings more excitement to exciting moments at games.
“We are thrilled to launch Stealing Sats in partnership with Bitrefill, Satoshi Wallet, and IBEX,” said Steven Nelkovski, CEO of Perth Heat, in a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine. “This is an innovative way to engage fans and offer something new and exciting. We believe this program will enhance the fan experience and incentivize players to achieve their best on the field.”
A baseball team made headlines in 2021 when it adopted the unified Bitcoin and Lightning standard, becoming the first professional sports team to do so. Afterward, the Heat proved their desire to further integrate Bitcoin, many introducing Lightning services into the stadium and fan experience. The team then announced “sats4stats,” a way to boost fan-favorite players via the Lightning Network.
The latest introduction of Stealing Sats is just another innovation for the team using Bitcoin and Lightning.
Ry Sterling, business development at IBEX, explained how they are trying to play a role in revolutionizing fan engagement, saying, “At IBEX our focus is on spreading innovation through the Lightning network and with the lead of the Perth Heat, #stealingsats and #satsforstats have been opened. Our eyes to a new market of global fandom that has not been considered before.
Chris Pavlesic, manager of Australia Bitrefill, said that “By stealing Sats, fans can now participate in the game in a new way, and we are excited to see how this will continue to develop over time.”
Daniel Alexiuc, CEO at Satoshi Wallet added, “The whole team at Satoshi Wallet is very excited about Stealing Sats with Perth Heat… This is an innovative way to demonstrate that Bitcoin is easy and for everyone.”