How Krida and SMU Are Creating the First Official University Coin in the United States

By Malini Basu

DALLAS, Texas — Krida, a Dallas-based sports technology company, has partnered with Southern Methodist University (SMU) to launch the SMU Mustang Coin, the first officially sanctioned university coin in the United States. The launch positions SMU and Krida at the forefront of fan engagement innovation in college athletics.

The SMU Mustang Coin is designed to give students, alumni, and fans new ways to connect with the university through exclusive experiences, rewards, digital content, and community engagement opportunities. Available through the Krida platform, the university coin serves as a digital access credential that unlocks participation across a growing ecosystem of SMU-related experiences.

As college athletics continues to evolve through NIL opportunities, conference realignment, revenue-sharing models, and changing fan expectations, universities are increasingly searching for innovative ways to strengthen relationships with students, alumni, and supporters. Krida was created to help universities meet that challenge by providing a scalable fan engagement platform built specifically for higher education.

“Universities have passionate communities, but there has never been a dedicated platform that allows fans to participate in meaningful ways beyond attending games or purchasing merchandise,” said Bhavesh Kalia, Founder of Krida and an SMU graduate. “The SMU Mustang Coin creates a new level of connection between universities and the people who support them.”

Through the Krida platform, users can earn and redeem digital access units for benefits such as priority event access, behind-the-scenes experiences, exclusive content, rewards, and future offerings from brand partners. The platform is designed to complement traditional university engagement efforts while creating new opportunities for participation throughout the year.

For Southern Methodist University, the partnership reflects a commitment to innovation within college athletics.

“This partnership is truly ‘By Mustangs, for Mustangs,'” said Brian Ullmann, Executive Deputy Director of Athletics. “Our partnership with Krida reflects Mustang Partners’ commitment to identifying innovative opportunities that enhance the fan experience and strengthen engagement with the SMU community.”

Founded in Dallas by SMU alumnus Bhavesh Kalia, Krida aims to build the modern infrastructure for university fan engagement. The launch of the SMU Mustang Coin is expected to be the first of several university partnerships as Krida expands its platform across collegiate athletics.

The company believes that the future of college sports will be driven not only by what happens on the field but also by how universities engage their students, alumni, and supporters year-round. By combining technology, rewards, community participation, and exclusive experiences, Krida is creating a new model for fan engagement in higher education.

The SMU Mustang Coin is a utility access credential designed exclusively for participation within the Krida platform. It is not a security, investment product, or financial instrument and is intended solely to unlock experiences, content, and rewards.

For more information about Krida, the SMU Mustang Coin, and future university partnerships, visit www.kridacoin.com.