Spartans.com Becomes RAF’s Exclusive iGaming Partner as HYPE Goes Deflationary & Stellar Targets Protocol Upgrade

RAF looked at every platform in the iGaming market and chose Spartans.com. Not an established brand with years of operation behind it. A platform still in beta, already ranked 14th globally, with $1 billion in wagers on record. That exclusive, league-wide, 12-month deal makes Spartans.com the best crypto casino with the most credible third-party endorsement in the sector right now.

Hyperliquid entered a net deflationary phase on April 17, with daily perpetuals trading buybacks exceeding reward payouts, and HYPE trading around $41 with a $13.66 billion market cap. Stellar is at approximately $0.18, with the XLM price up 15% in seven days and a Protocol 26 mainnet vote set for May 6. Three very different stories this week, one standout move.

Spartans.com & RAF: When the Other Side of the Table Does the Choosing

Chad Bronstein and the RAF leadership did not need to consider a beta-stage platform. Legacy sportsbooks and funded crypto casinos were available. RAF looked at all of them and signed Spartans.com as its exclusive iGaming partner for 12 months.

The platform they chose had already produced $1 billion in wagers, $100 million in deposits, $40 million in GGR, and 27,000 first-time depositors in beta — a 14th global ranking and a community millionaire already crowned. The 33% CashRake returns up to 33% of the house edge on every wager plus 3% cashback. A best crypto casino with a $7M leaderboard and a $3M Koenigsegg Jesko giveaway running simultaneously.

RAF is not splitting iGaming exposure. One partner, twelve months, every event. The league has generated 250 million social views per event across eight events and over eight figures in merchandise and ticket sales.

As Gurhan Kiziloz said: “Partnering with RAF at this stage aligns strongly with Spartans vision — both companies are in early stages of explosive growth, and with Spartans global launch on August 1st, this is the perfect moment for both brands to take over the world together.”

Hyperliquid: Deflationary Phase, $843M Revenue Run Rate, HYPE Testing Resistance

Hyperliquid entered a net deflationary phase on April 17, 2026, as daily token buybacks of 43,321 HYPE exceeded reward payouts of 26,837, removing 16,484 tokens from supply. The protocol generates $51.56 million monthly in fees, with 97% allocated to buybacks — a direct link between perpetuals trading volume and token demand.

HYPE trades around $41, up 108% from its January low of $21 but 31% below its all-time high of $59.37. The HIP-3 upgrade enabled real-world asset trading, with crude oil producing over $840 million in 24-hour volume. ETF filings have come from Bitwise, Grayscale, and 21Shares. Arthur Hayes has publicly targeted $150 for HYPE by August 2026. A $375.84 million April token unlock represents a meaningful near-term supply headwind.

Stellar: Protocol 26 Approaching, XLM Up 15% in Seven Days

The XLM price sits at approximately $0.18, ranked 16th by market cap with a $5.93 billion market cap. Stellar gained 15.16% over the past seven days, outperforming the broader crypto market amid a rotation into payment and remittance tokens. The Protocol 26 “Yardstick” upgrade entered testnet on April 16, introducing benchmarking tools and new Soroban smart contract host functions.

The mainnet governance vote is scheduled for May 6, 2026. Stellar’s real-world asset footprint has surpassed $2 billion. A BaFin-licensed euro stablecoin — AllUnity’s EURAU — launched on the network in April targeting European fintechs. Partnerships with Visa, PayPal, and Franklin Templeton remain active. XLM is testing $0.179 resistance for the fourth consecutive time; a confirmed breakout could push toward $0.22.

Summing Up

Hyperliquid’s deflationary flywheel — perpetuals trading volume funding 97% fee buybacks — is a real structural argument for token value. The XLM price recovery and Protocol 26 give Stellar genuine near-term catalysts. Both are credible ecosystems. But the clearest signal of the week came from RAF: a league generating 250 million views per event chose the best crypto casino in beta over every established iGaming platform. Spartans.com earned that exclusivity before launch. That is what a best crypto casino endorsement looks like when it comes from the other side.

Find Out More About Spartans:

Website: https://spartans.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spartans/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/SpartansBet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpartansBet

Disclaimer: Any information written in this press release does not constitute investment advice. Optimisus does not, and will not endorse any information about any company or individual on this page. Readers are encouraged to do their own research and base any actions on their own findings, not on any content written in this press release. Optimisus is and will not be responsible for any damage or loss caused directly or indirectly by the use of any content, product, or service mentioned in this press release.