Football Club Barcelona – commonly referred to as Barça – has decided to release a non-fungible token collection to depict epic moments from its nearly 122-year history.
The initiative became possible after the team signed a global partnership with Ownix – an NFT marketplace based on the Ethereum blockchain.
The Spanish team, a symbol of the Catalan province and the local culture, is one of the most successful soccer clubs in Europe. Unlike many others, its supporters – known as the Blaugranes – own and manage FC Barcelona. Therefore, Barça’s motto “Més que un club” (“More than a club”) sounds rather appropriate.
According to an official press release, the soccer team will grant another opportunity to include fans in its family: the chance to acquire non-fungible tokens via various auctions taking place throughout the season.
The digital collection will reproduce iconic events from the team’s history, such as displaying the record 75 trophies it has won in Spain and the 5 UEFA Champions League titles.
Joan Laporta – President of FC Barcelona – noted that the club’s global fanbase is among the largest, with over 400 million followers on social platforms. As such, creating these non-fungible tokens is a “unique opportunity to continue growing and consolidating the Barça brand,” he concluded.
Given the fact that the Blaugranas are passionate supporters, owning NFTs will grant them the chance to own a piece of their club’s legacy.
Speaking of FC Barcelona, one name pops out simultaneously – Lionel (Leo) Messi. Even though the Argentine is not part of the Spanish club anymore, he spent the last 18 years there becoming an ultimate idol of the fans and winning every possible trophy.
In August this summer, Messi joined the multimillion selection of Paris Saint-Germain following a financial dispute with Barça’s President. Interestingly, upon his arrival in Paris, his signing bonus included not only fiat currencies but also a portion of the team’s cryptocurrency fan token – $PSG.
The most successful team in Argentina – Boca Juniors – also recently explored launching non-fungible tokens for its supporters as an option. SociosCom – a leading global blockchain provider for the sports and entertainment industry – promised to issue the collectibles. According to the estimates, the move could generate revenues of around $10 million for Boca Juniors.
In its turn, Decentraland – a company, which gained popularity over the trending Play-to-Earn business model – vowed to create a virtual version of the club’s stadium, known as “La Bombonera.” There fans and players will have the opportunity to interact with each other.
Featured Image Courtesy of Yahoo
