Ripple has announced a sponsorship deal with the University of Kansas Jayhawks, marking the first-ever crypto patch on a major college athletics uniform. The XRP logo will appear on game jerseys starting this fall, with the patch color matching the team’s Crimson, Blue, or White uniforms. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, a Kansas alumnus, called it a rare intersection of his professional and personal life. The patch will not be on retail jerseys but can be added at the official team store.
Ripple has entered a partnership with the Kansas Jayhawks, the athletic teams representing the University of Kansas, to feature the XRP logo on game jerseys. The collaboration, described as “History on a jersey patch” by Ripple’s team, begins in the fall of this year.
The Jayhawks’ X account stated this partnership reflects a “shared commitment to innovation and excellence.” Ripple called this the first-ever crypto sponsorship of a major college athletics program.
The XRP patch will appear only on game jerseys, not on practice, travel, or sideline gear. The patch color will match the “overall color scheme of Kansas athletics and corresponding uniforms,” according to an FAQ, and will be either Crimson, Blue, or White.
Officially licensed Adidas game jerseys sold at retail stores will not carry the XRP patch. However, fans purchasing an official game jersey at the Jayhawk Outfitters team store can have the patch added during the transaction.
Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple CEO and a University of Kansas alumnus, commented on the move. He called it a “rare moment where my professional and personal worlds collide,” noting he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the university before earning an MBA from Harvard Business School.
The Kansas Jayhawks have won 15 national championships, including 12 NCAA Division I titles.
