August 2 – FC Barcelona has sold a 24.5% stake in Barca Studios, the club’s digital content and distribution hub, for $100 million to blockchain technology provider Chiliz.com, owner of the Socios.com Fan Token and NFT platform.
Socios.com will become a strategic partner of Barcelona and will work directly on Barcelona’s blockchain, NFT and digital assets, and Web3 strategies.
Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Socios.com and Chiliz said: “Barça Studios can now leverage our technology, expertise,and global scale to help roll out the Club’s Web3 content strategy and deliver new long term revenue streams that will benefit the club for seasons to come.”
Barça Studios leads the club’s creation of NFTs and metaverse projects as well as leading on the club’s digital strategy in regard to engagement and building its global fanbase digitally.
“As part of the strategic partnership, Socios.com and Barca Studios will develop projects that attract the most innovative blockchain and Web3 partners to build new features in the Barcelona FC ecosystem,” said Socios.com.
Socios.com and Barcelona have been working together since February 2020. More than $39 million of $BAR Fan Tokens have been sold, giving fans access to redeem rewards including VIP tickets, merchandise and uniqueexperiences.
“The $BAR Fan Token will be key to unlocking and creating a new array of opportunities that extend beyond theSocios.com app and into new, immersive, digital ecosystems powered by Chiliz technology that Socios.com and BarçaStudios will build in tandem,” said Socios.com.
Socios.com said the $BAR Fan Token is key to unlocking new opportunities that extend beyond the Socios.com app andinto new digital ecosystems powered by Chiliz technology that Socios.com and Barça Studios will build in tandem. The two partners will develop projects using the latest blockchain innovation as well as developing Web3 partners to build new features in the Barcelona FC ecosystem.
Socios.com has increasingly been focusing on ‘utility’ within its fan tokens – essentially the rewards and experiences that connect fans with the club. Barca say they have a digital following of 400 million fans. Barca Studios will have access to Socios.com’s blockchain technology that will create scale across international markets and generate new revenue streams.
“Blockchain technology can provide fans with a role and membership in their communities that cannot be removed orrevoked, or spent or expire,” said Dreyfus.
“Moreover, the application of blockchain technology can take the fan experience far beyond an app-based engagementand reward structure and deliver utility and connectivity across the metaverse, providing a way to connect a limitlessnumber of web3 projects.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1732563889labto1732563889ofdlr1732563889owedi1732563889sni@n1732563889osloh1732563889cin.l1732563889uap1732563889