The Complete Guide to Betting on NHL with Bitcoin & Crypto

Bet on the NHL at Cloudbet, the world's leading bitcoin sportsbook and crypto casino.

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league that was founded in 1917. Originally consisting of just four teams, the NHL has grown into a premier sports league with 32 teams. The league is divided into the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, each consisting of two divisions.

The NHL regular season typically runs from October to April, during which teams compete in an 82-game schedule. The regular season serves to determine the standings and seedings for the playoffs, where eight teams from each conference compete in four knock-out rounds culminating in the Stanley Cup Final. The Montreal Canadians have won the championship 25 times, the most of any team in the NHL.

The Montreal Canadians have won the championship 25 times, the most of any team in the NHL. The Florida Panthers have captured the Stanley Cup the past two seasons, beating the Edmonton Oilers in both the 2024 and 2025 finals.

If you're looking to bet on NHL games with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, you will find a variety of markets at Cloudbet. You can bet with crypto on the NHL on outcomes like match results, the outright winner, and more. Bitcoin betting is available for all your favorite NHL teams.

Who are the 2025-2026 Stanley Cup favorites?

The 2025-26 NHL season enters with an unusual sense of continuity: the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are again among preseason favorites to meet in the Stanley Cup Final. The last time the same two finalists clashed for three straight years was in the 1950s. As dominant as these teams have been, no dynasty lasts forever, especially with emerging contenders gaining ground.

A handful of teams are well-positioned to disrupt the Panthers-Oilers narrative. Whether it's depth scoring, upgraded blue lines, or goaltending questions finally being answered, these teams aren't just threats, they're plausible champions. Here's a breakdown of the most credible challengers to hoist the Cup next June:

Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina has been knocking on the door for years, and the 2025–26 season may finally be their breakthrough. Despite 44 playoff wins over the last seven years, the Hurricanes have yet to reach the Cup Final, falling short in the Eastern Conference finals in two of the last three seasons. Their goaltending faltered again in 2025, but offseason moves - like adding forward Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman K'Andre Miller - could be enough to push this puck-possession powerhouse over the edge.

Tampa Bay Lightning

After a brief downturn, Tampa Bay bounced back in 2024–25 with their best goal differential since their peak years. But playoff struggles against Florida - losing in five games in back-to-back seasons - have sparked questions about whether their championship window is closing. Still, with core stars like Kucherov, Vasilevskiy, and Hedman intact and no major roster losses, Tampa remains a dangerous postseason threat.

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas didn't match the scoring pace of its 2023 Cup run, but remains one of the West's most well-rounded teams. The biggest reason for optimism? A blockbuster offseason trade that brought in Mitch Marner from Toronto. Marner's elite playmaking, combined with Jack Eichel's all-around game, could reignite the Knights' offense just in time for a deep playoff push.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avs are still anchored by two of the league's most dominant players - Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. Although injuries and departures have chipped away at their depth, Colorado has retooled by bringing in veterans like Brent Burns and Victor Olofsson. If their core stays healthy, this team is a legitimate Cup contender once again.

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton remains the West's team to beat - at least for now. With Connor McDavid's contract expiring after this season, 2025–26 could be the final run for this iteration of the Oilers. Despite postseason inconsistency in years past, they've eliminated Vegas two years in a row and are likely to challenge for another Final appearance.

Bet smart on the NHL's elite with crypto only at Cloudbet, the best Bitcoin sportsbook for ice hockey.

Getting started: How to bet on NHL with bitcoin?

Betting on NHL with bitcoin is easy at Cloudbet. We offer the most competitive NHL odds. Bet on NHL with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin and more, along with stablecoins like USDT and USDC.

Just follow these steps:

1. Sign into your Cloudbet account and fund your wallet with BTC (or any of the 30+ cryptocurrencies we support on the platform.)
2. Head over to the ‘Ice Hockey' menu, select ‘NHL,' and then choose the match you would like to bet on. The page covers ongoing and upcoming games, as well as NHL outrights.
3. Research teams, players, trends, and available bet types before placing a bet. Cloudbet also offers insights on bets placed on select games from the sidebar of your chosen match.
4. Place your bitcoin bets and watch the action unfold!

What NHL markets can you bet on with bitcoin?

Bet with bitcoin on a variety of NHL markets at Cloudbet. Our pre-game and live in-play markets include:

1. Game winner
2. Total goals
3. Correct score
4. Winner of each period
5. First team to score
6. Last team to score

Why use bitcoin to bet on NHL?

Bitcoin and NHL have supporters all around the world, which is why the NHL has become so popular with crypto bettors. Here are some of the key benefits to betting on NHL matches with bitcoin on Cloudbet:

1. Fast payouts: Withdraw your winnings almost instantly with no hassle and no withdrawal admin fees.
2. Better odds: Bitcoin betting sites often offer better odds than traditional bookies.
3. Global reach: Bitcoin has no borders, perfect for globally popular competitions like the NHL.
4. Anonymity: No need to provide personal info to sign up and bet on ice hockey matches.
5. Transparency: Crypto users can see where their funds go on blockchain networks.
6. 24/7 access: The bitcoin network never sleeps, so you can bet anytime. Plus, Cloudbet offers 24/7 multilingual support through Live Chat.

Back your NHL picks today and make the most of Cloudbet's Welcome Package, worth up to $2,500.