Valve Ends Counter-Strike Sticker Capsules; Gaimin Gladiators Shuts Down CS Division on June 22

On June 22, Gaimin Gladiators shut down its Counter-Strike division, explicitly citing "recent changes to the Major ecosystem and revenue structure" following Valve's overhaul of Major sticker sales. Valve replaced randomized capsule packs with direct-purchase tokens ahead of IEM Cologne, allowing fans to buy specific team and player stickers. Revenue from the new system has collapsed: a Stage 1 team reported earning approximately $60,000 compared with around $600,000 under the previous randomized capsule model in Budapest.

Meanwhile, crypto betting platforms are deepening integration with Counter-Strike esports. BLAST named Polymarket its official prediction partner for 2026, while NAVI secured GG.BET as title sponsor and Limitless as prediction-market partner, and G2 added crypto casino Betpanda as its global betting partner.