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- FAV has signed up Cardiff City, Norwich City and Real Betis ahead of Q4 launch
- Fans will benefit from wider interoperability
Chiliz, the parent company of fan token specialist Socios, has agreed a strategic partnership with Crypto Blockchain Industries (CBI) that will see a soccer-themed metaverse launch on the Chiliz Chain.
CBI’s ‘Football at Alphaverse’ (FAV) metaverse will let soccer fans interact with each other, play games, and purchase digital assets such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in immersive digital environments based on major events and professional clubs.
FAV has already signed up several European and South American teams to its metaverse ahead of a planned launch in the fourth quarter of this year.
Clubs on board include Spain’s Real Betis, Brazil’s Sao Paolo FC, as well as English Championship side Cardiff City, which will offer a digital recreation of their home stadium, training ground and landmarks from the Welsh capital in the environment.
Partner clubs will also offer fans the opportunity to earn real-life perks such as match tickets, merchandise and exclusive events. The digital economy will be powered by the ‘$FAV’ token, minted on the Chiliz Chain.
“Partnering with Chiliz Labs and integrating Chiliz Chain in the Alphaverse are logical steps for us given the footprint of Chiliz on the blockchain in general, and in the world of football in particular,” said Frédéric Chesnais, founder and chief executive of CBI.
“We look forward to this long-term relationship bringing new experiences to football fans across the world.”
“Through Chiliz Chain and Chiliz Labs we have developed the infrastructure and support network that will enable companies focused on creating long-lasting, utility-oriented sports projects to thrive,” added Alexandre Dreyfus, Chiliz chief executive.
“This is the beginning of a longer-term strategic partnership with CBI that fully aligns with the Chiliz Chain vision to bring fans and communities together with the teams and brands they love through blockchain technology.”
SportsPro says…
There are no shortage of options for soccer clubs looking to make the jump to the metaverse, even if a compelling use case has arguably yet to be developed. However, FAV will hope the promised interoperability of the Chiliz Chain, in which a dedicated cryptocurrency can be used freely between multiple applications, will give it an advantage.
Chiliz wants its blockchain to become a dedicated platform for the sports industry. Its flagship Socios fan token venture is the anchor user of the blockchain, which also powers Chiliz’s GameUsed end-to-end memorabilia authentication service, as well as third-party users such as Blockasset, LiveLike and FanFest
The more third parties on the Chiliz Chain, the better for owners of the Chiliz cryptocurrency as more utility means greater value. It helps to explain why the firm has created a US$50 billion incubator and accelerator programme that will support early-stage companies looking at the intersection of sport and blockchain.
