- FC Barcelona’s president has stated that the club wants to create its own cryptocurrency.
- Laporta stated that the club will issue a variety of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the near future.
FC Barcelona’s president has stated that the club wants to create its own cryptocurrency. According to Joan Laporta, President of FC Barcelona, who spoke at the Mobile World Congress 2022 in Barcelona this week, the club has rejected offers to partner with crypto enterprises because it wants to develop its own cryptocurrency and metaverse.
He explained that “We want to create our own cryptocurrency and we have to do that ourselves. We are different because we survive financially from what we can generate through the industry of sport.” He further said that “We do not have big corporations or shareholders behind us. That forces us to be imaginative, innovative, brave and be a step ahead in many areas that surround the sports industry”.
Laporta stated that the club will issue a variety of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the near future. At this point, it is unclear what Barcelona’s crypto would be used for, whether as a fan token similar to those offered by Socios or as a means of payment for tickets and merchandise.
Laporta went on to say that the club hopes to unveil their first line of NFTs soon as part of a larger project “Contribute to the club’s financial well-being. He said that “It’s something we can share with our fans around the world — around 300 million of them. I could announce something else, but I have to be prudent because it’s confidential still.”
He further said that “The players know what we’re working on, that this is a modern club that makes use of new media. There are clauses in their contracts related to the NFT world and the metaverse.”
Barcelona, unlike the majority of major soccer clubs, is owned and operated by its fans. The club’s governance is based on 160,000 members rather than shareholders. According to Forbes, it will be the most valuable soccer club in the world in 2021.
