Where fans and brands directly support the athletes they care about. Zaps are fan tips. ZapDeals are brand sponsorships. Athletes keep the relationship — on their terms.
✓Payouts in your local currency · USDC coming soon
Stripe
Card and bank payments
iDenfy
Athlete identity verification
SignWell
Signed ZapDeal contracts
The new sports economy
Pro sports is a winner-take-most economy.
A small group of stars captures most of the money. The rest of the field — still elite global competitors — splits what’s left.
~90%
Share of revenue captured by the Top 100 in individual professional sports.
~55%
Captured by just the Top 25.
Based on a Sportzap research brief covering 13 individual professional sports, 2022–2025. Read the full brief at sportzap.io/sports-economics.
Sportzap is building a new sports economy — one designed to make careers more sustainable for every athlete, not just the few at the top.
The cost of staying in the game
The cost of being a pro is rising faster than earnings.
Travel. Coaching. Equipment. Nutrition. Recovery. Years of unpaid grind before a single check clears. Modern professional sport demands more than ever — and most athletes pay for it themselves.
$25K–$40K
Estimated annual out-of-pocket expenses for a U.S. National Team swimmer. Most Olympic hopefuls earn less.
#150
Ranking at which ATP and WTA pro tennis players break even financially on prize money alone.
Being a pro isn’t a job. It’s a lifestyle — paid for out of pocket.
How it works
From support to earnings in three steps.
Fans can support athletes the moment it matters — applause that turns into real income.
Brands can move from spotting a breakout performance to signing a deal in days, not months.
01
Profile
Create your profile.
Pick your sport, write your bio, link your federation and socials. One public page for fans to find you.
sportzap.io/yourname
02
Verify
Get verified.
Confirm your identity with a government-issued ID. Fans see a Verified badge before they ever send a Zap.
ID Verified
03
Earn
Start earning through Zaps and ZapDeals.
Receive Zaps from fans. Accept ZapDeals from brands. Direct payouts to your bank in your local currency.
No subscriptions. No surprises. Just a fee per transaction.
Sportzap is built on the same payments and identity infrastructure that powers companies you already trust. Verified athletes. Direct payouts. Clear pricing on every transaction.
Stripe
Card and bank payments
iDenfy
Athlete identity verification
SignWell
Signed ZapDeal contracts · Soon
9%
Zaps (card or bank)
Deducted from the Zap amount. Fans can choose to cover the fee at checkout.
9%+ $5
ZapDeals (card or bank)
Added on top of the contract amount. Paid by the brand. Athlete receives the full agreed fee.
No app-store cut. Sportzap is web-first by design.
Sportzap is built for all athletes and may be especially useful for independent athletes competing without the safety net of a league. You must be at least 18 years old and complete identity verification with a government-issued ID.
How does verification work?
Verification is handled by our partner iDenfy and typically takes a few minutes. Stripe handles card and bank payments and has its own verification process, which all athletes complete.
How do I get paid, and what fees does Sportzap charge?
All Zaps and ZapDeals are processed through Stripe for card and bank payments. Payouts follow Stripe’s standard schedule — usually 2 business days after a payment clears, with the first payout from a new account taking longer while Stripe establishes payment history. Sportzap charges 9% per Zap. By default that fee comes out of the Zap, but the fan can choose to cover it at checkout so you receive the full amount. For ZapDeals the fee is 9% + $5 paid by the brand on top of the contract amount — you receive the full agreed fee. These are the only fees you’ll see; there are no subscriptions, listing fees, or hidden charges.
Can I get paid in Bitcoin?
Not yet — but it’s on the roadmap. Direct Bitcoin payouts aren’t available in this version of Sportzap while we finish working through some legal and technical requirements. It’s a priority for us, and we’re building toward it in a future release. USDC stablecoin payouts are coming sooner — once they’re live you’ll be able to receive a digital dollar through Stripe and convert it to Bitcoin in your own wallet whenever you like, keeping you in full control of your funds.
Can I get paid in USDC stablecoin?
Coming soon. USDC stablecoin payouts are on the way, and we’re completing the approval process with Stripe before switching them on. For now, every Zap and ZapDeal pays out to your bank in your local currency through Stripe. When USDC goes live, you’ll be able to link a crypto wallet in your Stripe dashboard and have your share settle to USDC automatically. Availability will depend on the country and US state tied to your Stripe account, and is determined by Stripe.
What is a Zap, and what is a ZapDeal?
A Zap is a tip sent by a fan — typically after a great performance, but anytime they want to show support. You don’t have to do anything to receive one. A ZapDeal is a sponsorship contract between you and a brand for an agreed deliverable, which can be anything from a single social post to a longer-term ambassador arrangement. Once you accept the offer, fulfill the deal, and the brand confirms, payment is released to you right away, but actual arrival times vary depending on your Stripe payout schedule.
Do I have to accept every ZapDeal I am offered?
No. You’re always in control of which brands you work with. When a brand sends a ZapDeal offer, you’ll see the full brief — brand, deliverable, compensation, usage rights, and deadline — before deciding. Accept, decline, or counter. Declining doesn’t affect your standing on the platform.
Will Sportzap help me with taxes?
Sportzap is built to be an impeccable record-keeper, not a tax advisor. Every Zap and ZapDeal is logged with timestamp, gross amount, platform fee, net payout, and counterparty details where applicable. You can export a full earnings report as CSV or PDF anytime, which makes year-end preparation straightforward for you or your accountant. You’re responsible for your own tax obligations — we recommend speaking with a qualified tax professional.
Is there an app?
Sportzap is web-first by design — it works in any browser on any device and can be added to your home screen for quick access. Going web-first means avoiding the 15–30% cut app stores take, which means more money flows to athletes. No download required.
Am I allowed to accept Zaps and ZapDeals under my sport's or sponsor's rules?
Sportzap is open to athletes globally, but each sport, federation, league, and personal sponsor has its own rules about outside income, endorsements, and exclusivity. Understanding and following those rules is your responsibility. When in doubt, check with your federation, agent, or legal counsel before accepting Zaps or ZapDeals. Sportzap doesn’t provide legal advice and isn’t responsible for conflicts with your governing body or existing contracts.
Effort becomes earnings.
Claim your profile and start getting paid by the people who back you.