Court Craze and Crypto Waves

Katie Randall

Hey everyone, welcome back to Pickled Crypto! I’m Katie Randall, and I’m here with my partner in all things digital and dinking, Crypto-Dan. Dan, you ready for this?

Crypto-Dan

Always, Katie. My knees might not let me play much, but I can still talk a mean game. And wow, there’s a lot to talk about. Did you see the news about Middletown, Connecticut? They’re building this $15 million, 100,000 square foot pickleball complex. That’s not a typo—one hundred thousand square feet.

Katie Randall

It’s wild! Twenty-one courts, a restaurant, a kids’ club, fitness stuff, year-round play... I mean, that’s bigger than some college rec centers. It’s like pickleball’s gone from backyard hobby to, I dunno, a full-on lifestyle. I think they’re opening in 2026, right?

Crypto-Dan

Yeah, July 2026 if all goes to plan. And it’s not just Connecticut. Texas is getting in on the action too—San Antonio’s got two new climate-controlled venues coming. One’s a 12-court spot opening soon, and the other’s a 36,000 square foot center with event space. It’s like, if you build it, the pickleballers will come.

Katie Randall

I mean, with almost 20 million players in the US now, it makes sense. And the climate-controlled thing is huge. I played my first indoor pickleball game last winter—honestly, the energy in there reminded me of my college softball days. The noise, the crowd, the echo off the walls... except, you know, with a lot more paddle pops and a lot less dirt.

Crypto-Dan

Ha! Speaking of noise, did you catch the Berkeley rooftop court proposal? They want to put three courts on top of a parking garage downtown. But, uh, not everyone’s thrilled. Some folks say the sound of the ball is like gunshots. I don’t know if I’d go that far, but I get it—urban spaces are tight, and not everyone wants a pickleball soundtrack outside their window.

Katie Randall

Yeah, it’s creative, but it’s tricky. I love the idea of using rooftops for courts, but balancing access with community concerns is tough. I mean, I’d play on a roof in a heartbeat, but I’m not sure my neighbors would love it.

Crypto-Dan

It’s not just the big money, though. Frankfort, Illinois just built two new community courts, and almost all the funding came from donations—like $80,000. That’s pure grassroots energy. And then you’ve got the Pride Pickleball Tournament in New York City coming up, with open and inclusive divisions. It’s awesome to see the sport growing in all directions.

Katie Randall

Totally. I love that the sport’s not just for pros or country clubs anymore. The NYC Pride event is on Randall’s Island, right? That’s gonna be a party. And the “Golden Ticket” qualifiers are popping up everywhere—Colorado Springs, California, even Michigan now. It’s like, if you want to play at Nationals, there’s a path for you.

Crypto-Dan

And the pro scene’s getting serious, too. Major League Pickleball has Edward Jones sponsoring four events this season, and the APP Tour is going global—Asia events, international rollouts, the whole deal. It’s like watching crypto in the early days, honestly. You remember those first crypto meetups? Just a bunch of people in a coffee shop, all passion, no suits. That’s what these local rec leagues feel like to me—community-driven, everyone pitching in, nobody’s too cool to help set up nets.

Katie Randall

That’s such a good comparison. And now, with big sponsors and international tours, it’s like both worlds—pickleball and crypto—are leveling up at the same time. But I hope they don’t lose that grassroots vibe, you know? The best games I’ve played were on donated courts with people who just love the sport.

Crypto-Dan

Yeah, it’s a balancing act. Growth is great, but you gotta keep the community at the center. Otherwise, it just turns into another business, and that’s not what got people hooked in the first place.

Katie Randall

Alright, let’s switch gears—crypto’s been just as wild lately. Brazil just dropped a big one: they’re scrapping all crypto tax exemptions and setting a flat 17.5% tax on gains for everyone, no matter how much you trade. So, small investors who used to be exempt now have to pay, and big traders actually get a break compared to the old system. It’s a big shift.

Crypto-Dan

Yeah, and it’s not just about the tax rate. They’re closing loopholes, so even offshore wallets and self-custodied assets are taxed now. It’s all about tightening oversight and boosting government revenue. Plus, there’s talk of Brazil making Bitcoin a sovereign reserve asset—up to 5% of national reserves. That’s a pretty bold move, if it happens.

Katie Randall

It’s wild to see how fast the rules change. Honestly, it reminds me of pickleball—one year you’re playing with wooden paddles and no kitchen rules, the next year there’s a whole new set of regulations. You gotta stay on your toes in both worlds.

Crypto-Dan

Exactly. And speaking of fast moves, Circle just brought USDC to the XRP Ledger, right after their IPO. That means faster payments, no bridges, and a big win for cross-border DeFi. It’s a strategic play—Circle’s expanding USDC everywhere, and now XRP Ledger gets a regulated stablecoin with real liquidity. That’s a big deal for developers and institutions.

Katie Randall

And Bitcoin’s still making headlines. It’s been bouncing between $104K and $110K, but with US inflation cooling off, some analysts are saying $200K by year-end is “firmly in play.” I mean, that’s a huge call, but with the Fed maybe easing policy and more institutional money coming in, who knows?

Crypto-Dan

Yeah, I’m not saying it’s a lock, but the momentum’s real. Softer inflation, ETF inflows, even state-level Bitcoin reserves in the US—there’s a lot of tailwinds. But, you know, crypto’s always got a twist. Just like pickleball—one minute you’re up, next minute you’re chasing a lob you didn’t see coming.

Katie Randall

That’s the fun of it, right? Whether it’s a new court popping up or a new tax law dropping, you gotta adapt. Alright, I think that’s a wrap for today. Dan, any last thoughts?

Crypto-Dan

Just that I love seeing both these worlds go from niche to mainstream. And I can’t wait to see what surprises next week brings—on the court and on the blockchain.

Katie Randall

Same here. Thanks for hanging out with us, everyone. We’ll be back with more pickleball and crypto news soon. Dan, always a pleasure.

Crypto-Dan

Right back at you, Katie. See you next time, folks!