Team Vitality’s apEX now holds the record for the most trophies and kills in Counter-Strike Major history — a career achievement that also marks a broader turning point in esports sponsorship. The milestone comes as teams across the scene quietly distance themselves from the crypto-heavy dealmaking that defined the 2021–2023 boom.
The apEX record
With his latest Major trophy added this spring, apEX sits alone atop the all-time leaderboard for both titles and eliminations at CS:GO/CS2’s premier events. The French in-game leader has been a constant presence since 2014, outlasting multiple roster cycles and meta shifts. His longevity offers a contrast to the fast-money sponsors that have come and gone.
Why the sponsorship shift matters
ApEX’s success, according to those familiar with the market, highlights a growing preference among top esports organizations for sustainable brand partnerships over volatile crypto deals. Several high-profile crypto sponsors collapsed or pulled out in the last two years, leaving teams scrambling for revenue. The timing isn’t great — esports already operates on thin margins — so the move toward longer, more stable agreements is a pragmatic one.
No single announcement triggered the change. Rather, it’s a cumulative response: teams saw the risks of tying their income to token prices and exchange solvency. Now, sponsors in traditional sectors — apparel, energy drinks, hardware — are filling the gap with multi-year commitments that look more like classic sports sponsorships.
What apEX's run says about the market
ApEX himself has never been a crypto pitchman. His endorsement deals lean toward gaming peripherals and lifestyle brands. That profile is becoming the norm. Agents report that players and orgs now ask tougher questions about a sponsor’s balance sheet before signing, and crypto companies that remain in esports tend to be established exchanges rather than fly-by-night token projects.
Whether this shift fully protects the scene from the next downturn is unclear. But for now, the man holding the most Major kills in history is also a walking example of what sustainable longevity looks like — in gameplay and in business.
