Major cryptocurrency substitution FTX gave $500 in crypto to every spectator sitting in i section of the FTX Arena at Th's Miami Heat season opener game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

As well as the crypto giveaway, every fan in the stadium received a T-shirt with a QR lawmaking giving access to an exclusive 'Opening Night FTX Arena NFT'.

Fans will no doubt be wondering if the gratis crypto giveaway volition become a regular occurrence at Miami Heat games, with unconfirmed social media speculation that a different department may be given crypto each game to ramp up the excitement.

Messari founder Ryan Selkis did some back-of-the-envelope math and adamant that with 21,000 spectators in the arena, and 80 seating sections, the giveaway would cost effectually $150,000 — which is a pretty good bang for the buck, given the stunt went down well on social media.

In April, FTX paid up $135 one thousand thousand to rename the Miami Heat NBA arena FTX Arena for the next 19 years — a bold move, because the company is only two years sometime.

"Don't slumber on how powerful this sponsorship will be," wrote podcaster Anthony Pompliano.

Related: FTX crypto exchange raises $420M from 69 investors

Udonis Haslem, a three-time NBA Champion Miami Estrus fable, has been named ambassador for FTX's "You In, Miami?" campaign at the game. FTX says it plans to work closely with Haslem to promote crypto inside the greater Miami area.

"I'k excited to share my community with FTX and work alongside them to increase awareness of cryptocurrency," said Haslem.

The promotional blitzkrieg is the most recent installment in FTX's ongoing campaign to target sports fans as a way to bring in more than mainstream consumers.

In May, FTX's price index app Blockfolio signed an endorsement bargain with tiptop NFL typhoon pick Trevor Lawrence. It too recently signed a $210 million deal to sponsor eSports team TSM, irresolute the squad'due south proper name to TSM FTX for the next ten years, and has been a sponsor of major league baseball since June.