Esports media and tournament production company BLAST announced today that IC will become the Official Online Trading Partner of BLAST Premier, its Counter-Strike 2 tournament series and BLAST Slam, its Dota 2 tournament series. IC Trading is an online CFD (Contract for Difference) and Forex broker that provides a multi-asset trading platform for retail and institutional traders.
The agreement is a multi-year partnership that extends IC’s sponsorship activity into esports, an area where BLAST said it reaches millions of fans through live broadcasts, arena events, original content, and its streaming platform, BLAST.tv.
As part of the agreement, IC branding will appear across broadcasts and at arena events. The partnership also includes original content, fan competitions, and on-site activations at select BLAST events to give IC a presence both online and in person at tournaments.
The company also confirmed that IC will present BLAST Higher Lower, a segment on BLAST.tv in which contestants estimate the value of Counter-Strike 2 in-game items, known as skins. BLAST said the format’s focus on value comparison and quick decision-making relates to aspects of online trading. IC will also run physical activations at selected BLAST arena events, giving fans and attendees the opportunity to interact with the brand in person at live tournaments.
IC’s first appearance under the partnership will be at BLAST Premier Bounty, held in Malta from July 21 to August 3. The tournament will represent the start of the second Counter-Strike competitive season of 2026 and features 32 teams that select their own opponents during the event featuring a prize pool of $1,150,000.
James Brown, Commercial Director at BLAST, said, “IC is exactly the type of ambitious global brand that shows where esports is heading.. By choosing BLAST as a platform, IC is investing in one of the most engaged digital audiences in global entertainment. This partnership goes far beyond brand visibility. IC will be part of the broadcast, part of the arena experience, part of our content and part of how fans engage with BLAST.tv. That is what makes this exciting. It is a brand using esports as a serious global media and engagement platform.
Tony Philip, Chief Marketing Officer at IC, said, “At IC, we look for partnerships that reflect what our brand stands for. BLAST brings together technology, performance, precision and highly engaged global communities, making esports a natural extension of our sponsorship strategy. As our brand continues to evolve globally, this partnership allows us to connect with a new generation of digitally native audiences through experiences that reflect the values our brand is built on – technology, precision and performance.”
This latest partnership continues a strong run of announcements from BLAST. Earlier this month, the company posted a 40% jump in 2025 revenue to over $133 million and launched a new headquarters in New York. Last month, it also partnered with Circuit X to oversee the North American regional qualifiers for BLAST Porto.
Follow The Esports Radar on social media:
