New York-listed tokenised asset firm Securitize is to offer shares in football clubs held on the blockchain in partnership with controversial fan token firm Socios.
A “strategic partnership to develop regulated equity offerings involving minority interests in professional sports teams” was announced as the market opened in New York, with Securitize – which has $5bn in assets under management and a market cap of $1bn – set to offer the tokenised shares.
The London Stock Exchange this week announced plans to launch UK tokenised equity structures, which opens the door for shares to be traded on the UK regulated platform.
Socios – which has offered fan tokens in Arsenal, Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain, and has been criticised by supporter groups for so-called “pay to have a say” operations – did not say whether the offered equity would be in UK clubs but the firm is understood to be discussing plans with teams in Europe’s Big Five leagues, which encompasses England, France, Spain, Italy and Germany.
The blockchain has been used to purchase stakes in football clubs before, with Italian team Rimini FC selling a 25 per cent stake in the Serie C club to Heritage Sports Holdings with cryptocurrency Quantocoin used for the transaction.
Blockchain ballers
Watford flirted with the blockchain when it said fans could earn tokens if they invested – in dollars or sterling – into the club at a £175m valuation in 2024. The scheme was cancelled in 2025.
English non-league team Real Bedford takes crypto payments for merchandise and matchday tickets but saw a 45 per cent stake purchase by Bitcoin entrepreneurs Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss with traditional payment methods.
“Together the two companies will create the world’s first regulated investment infrastructure for tokenised sports club equity,” they said. “Socios.com will lead relationships across the sports industry and the development of the fan-facing engagement layer.
“Securitize will lead regulated securities issuance, investor onboarding, ownership-record administration, transfer controls and ongoing servicing through its applicable regulated affiliates.”
Securitize co-founder Carlos Domingo said: “Professional sports teams represent a significant asset class that has remained largely private and difficult to access.
“Securitize’s regulated infrastructure in the United States and Europe can provide teams and their owners with a new way to issue and administer equity while preserving the investor protections and ownership rights that should come with a regulated security.”