WhiteBIT, a leading European crypto exchange, made headlines in May 2025 with the launch of the International Crypto Trading Cup (ICTC) 2025 – the world’s first live-streamed global crypto trading tournament. Over two days (May 9–10, 2025), eight elite traders from around the world faced off on stage in Andorra, each given a 50,000 USDTB futures trading account. They competed head-to-head for up to 5,000,000 USDT in prize money (capped) while audiences watched every move in real time. ICTC combined high-stakes futures trading with expert commentary and live strategy analysis, creating an “e-sports-style” spectacle that brought crypto trading into the public eye.
The event was explicitly educational and interactive. As WhiteBIT’s founder, Volodymyr Nosov, explained, ICTC was designed to make blockchain and trading “accessible and exciting in a brand-new format” – a live “championship where every trade, decision, and strategy is showcased”. Thousands of viewers tuned in, and participants traded under strict rules (no trading bots or outside advice) during two 6-hour live sessions each day. In short, ICTC brought crypto markets to life on a stage, letting fans see the thrill and pressure of real trading.
Qualifying Stage: Earn Your Spot on the Main Stage
ICTC began with a Global Qualifying Tournament (March 27 – April 7, 2025) open to all verified WhiteBIT users. Traders simply had to register on WhiteBIT (pass KYC) and click “Join” on the competition page, which created a dedicated sub-account for them. They then traded real futures pairs on WhiteBIT, earning points based on rP&L (return on their contest balance). To qualify for rewards, each trader needed at least 10 trades totaling 20,000 USDT in volume. Crucially, all funds used were provided by WhiteBIT (no one risked personal money).
- Dates: Mar 27, 12:00 UTC through Apr 7, 12:00 UTC, 2025.
- Entry: Must be a registered, KYC-verified WhiteBIT user.
- Requirements: Complete ≥10 futures trades with ≥20,000 USDT volume on the contest sub-account. Withdrawals were locked until the contest ended.
- Prizes: Top 33 leaderboard finishers won rewards (total pool 1,000 USDT + TradingView subscriptions). The payouts were: 1st – 500 USDT; 2nd – 300 USDT; 3rd – 200 USDT; and 4th–33rd earned premium or plus plans on TradingView.
The big incentive was for first place: the trader with the highest rP&L in qualifying not only took the 500 USDT prize, but also earned a spot on the Main Stage of ICTC. WhiteBIT covered all travel and lodging (up to 5,000 USDT equivalent) for that winner to attend the live finals and awards ceremony in Andorra. In fact, the winner even received a VIP experience at the May 11 FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid match as part of the prize.
Main Stage Finals: Live Competition in Andorra
The Main Stage of ICTC took place May 9–10, 2025, in Andorra, featuring eight finalists (the 1 qualifier plus 7 pre-selected top traders). All trading was done in the WhiteBIT futures market using the TradingView charting platform. Each finalist was given 50,000 USDTB credit (an internal bonus token) to trade with during the live sessions. They had to follow strict live rules: at least 3 trades per hour and 500,000 USDT total volume over the two-day event, trading only during the 13:00–19:00 UTC windows. If a trader’s contest balance fell to zero, they were eliminated.
Finalists and organizers celebrate on stage at the Andorra Park Hotel after ICTC’s live finals, with champion Max Hamaha holding the trophy.
The winner was determined by the highest profit (rP&L) at the end. In classic WhiteBIT contest style, the champion took home essentially all the profits made by everyone else (up to the $5,000,000 cap). In the actual ICTC 2025 results, Ukraine’s Max Hamaha earned the victory and collected the lion’s share of the prize pool. (Had the total profits been below the initial deposits, the winner was guaranteed at least $10,000.) Throughout the event, expert commentators broke down each move in real time, live interviews gave viewers insight into trader mindsets, and fans could even vote for favorites, making the broadcast a mix of education and entertainment.
Squad Competition
ICTC also featured a parallel Squad Leaders contest. Community leaders with large social followings could register as “squad leaders,” recruit at least 25 team members, and compete for a shared prize pool. (Eligibility required: 10,000+ followers on social media.) There were up to 50 squad leaders, each receiving 1,000 USDTB credit to trade. The top squad leader (highest trading score) won up to $1,000,000 USDT, taking the pooled profits and distributing 20% to their qualifying squad members. Additional prizes were awarded to squads for the highest volume, most profitable trades, and largest size. This structure created an influencer-driven parallel contest where teams could learn and compete together. (WhiteBIT even invited top performance-based traders to lead squads as an affiliate initiative with up to 60% trading fee rebates.)
WhiteBIT’s Role and Crypto Credentials
As the organizer and sponsor of ICTC, WhiteBIT invested heavily in making the event professional. WhiteBIT (founded in 2018) is one of Europe’s largest crypto exchanges by traffic and volume. It offers 300+ coins, advanced trading features, and serves millions of users (reportedly over 35 million customers globally). WhiteBIT is known for brand partnerships – it is the official cryptocurrency partner of FC Barcelona – and it emphasizes blockchain adoption and security. Nosov himself noted that WhiteBIT built all its tech in-house and has never suffered a security breach in seven years of operation, underscoring the company’s focus on trust.
In ICTC, WhiteBIT provided all the trading capital (USDTB) and took on organizational costs, making the tournament risk-free and educational for participants. The exchange’s mission shone through: Nosov explained that ICTC grew from “a friendly challenge” into a global championship intended to “elevate the industry” by showcasing strategies and making trading fun and instructive. As he put it, ICTC reflects WhiteBIT’s goal of “mass blockchain adoption,” aiming to show beginners and experts alike that crypto trading can be an exciting spectator experience.
Sponsors and Partners
ICTC’s production was backed by several industry partners. TradingView, the charting platform, was the official technological partner, powering the live trading interface. Tether (issuer of the USDT stablecoin) was the title sponsor, even issuing a special stablecoin called USDB to serve as the event’s prize currency. WhiteBIT itself organized a major affiliate program in conjunction with ICTC, offering up to 60% trading fees to top community leaders who joined the event.
The event also leveraged WhiteBIT’s sports sponsorships: winners received VIP access to the legendary El Clásico match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid on May 11, 2025, reflecting WhiteBIT’s partnership with FC Barcelona. Numerous crypto media outlets acted as media partners, ensuring global coverage (logos on the ICTC site included major news platforms, and partnerships were publicized via industry channels). In short, ICTC featured support from major crypto brands and sports organizations to maximize its reach.
Traders Speak: Competition Voices
ICTC attracted traders with years of experience, and their commentary highlighted the contest’s intensity. One entrant summarized the challenge bluntly: “Trading is the most difficult job in the world,” he said, emphasizing the discipline required. Others noted how the format affected strategy. Luca Boiardi (Italy), who finished mid-pack, reflected that “luck plays a major role in a tournament like this… it was not a natural environment, but that was the entire point, it was very challenging.” UAE trader Malik Roth Klindt Jensen (4th place) agreed: “It’s very difficult to trade on skill,” he told reporters, since a two-day sprint forces traders out of their usual comfort zones.
Max Hamaha, the Ukrainian champion, has been trading for 17+ years and runs a popular crypto YouTube channel. He said ICTC’s pressure “created unique conditions that forced me into positions I would not normally take.” Every competitor had to adapt – some switched to more volatile strategies or tighter timeframes, others plotted market sentiment on the fly. Throughout the broadcasts, live interviews with traders aimed to demystify their thought processes (risk management, strategy choices, etc.), making every move educational for viewers.
Significance: Crypto Education Meets Esports
ICTC 2025 was widely hailed as a milestone. Crypto media described it as “the world’s first global crypto trading competition conducted live, right on stage.” By blending competition with commentary, ICTC set “a new benchmark” for making crypto trading into a spectator sport. Fans could watch expert analysts break down each trade, vote for favorite traders, and even try the competition themselves via WhiteBIT’s contest page, turning a traditionally niche activity into an interactive event.
WhiteBIT’s leaders believe this format will drive crypto adoption. “This is the first event where anyone could test their skills in real-time, against seasoned professionals,” said WhiteBIT CMO Alex Kozenko. He likened ICTC to letting soccer fans play in El Clásico – it hooked spectators emotionally and gave them a chance to participate directly. Founder Nosov echoed this vision: ICTC’s goal is to make crypto trading “accessible and exciting,” teaching millions as if every trade were a live lesson.
Many observers see ICTC sparking a new niche in crypto culture. The competition format forced traders to take higher risks (using 50x or 100x leverage) than usual, which in turn highlighted advanced tactics and market psychology for onlookers. As one analyst noted, such contests could “carve a new niche” in crypto by blending intellectual rigor with real-time drama. Indeed, Kozenko affirmed that WhiteBIT plans to make ICTC an annual affair, building on the success of this inaugural event.
For newcomers and seasoned users alike, ICTC 2025 demonstrated that crypto trading can be both educational and entertaining. By airing live trades, expert commentary, and even fan interaction, the event brought transparency to trading strategies and risk management. In the words of one commentator, “every trade is a lesson”, and ICTC turned crypto charts into a classroom visible to all. With global reach and major sponsors behind it, the International Crypto Trading Cup is poised to become a recurring fixture – a unique blend of sportsmanship and science driving crypto awareness forward.
Sources: WhiteBIT official announcements and terms; press coverage by Coin World, Bitcoinist, Crypto.News, The Crypto Basic, and others.
