Whether or not the tweet did result from haphazard scheduling is not clear. A spokesperson for the Washington franchise declined a request for comment.
Related: MLB marketing in 2022 includes crypto
The greater crypto market is in the midst of a downswing, with Bitcoin and Ether, the two leading cryptocurrencies, down 17% and 16% in the past week, respectively. Brands dipping their toes into Web3 should heed the Nationals’ flub as a reminder that the crypto space is highly volatile, and education and awareness of its vagaries are a must.
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Moreover, brands need to ensure that they are choosing Web3 partners with reliable business models and leaders. Terra’s UST coin is an “algorithmic stablecoin,” meaning that underlying smart contracts try to keep it pegged to a fixed—or stable—price. Algorithmic stablecoins are considered precarious products with low success rates—perhaps not the best partner for a brand just entering the space. Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs, which developed Terra, is also a controversial character in the crypto space.
Announced in February, the National’s partnership with Terra gives the crypto project—which is governed by a DAO—naming rights to an exclusive area of its stadium behind home plate. The franchise also said it may start accepting Terra’s UST coin as a payment method at Nationals Park this season.
Crypto has recently established ties with professional sports leagues, including Major League Baseball. Last month, exchange FTX debuted a campaign starring Los Angeles Angels standout Shohei Ohtani.
