FC Barcelona, the renowned Spanish football team and reigning La Liga champion, is expanding its presence in the digital realm. Backed by a substantial €120 million ($132 million), FC Barcelona is launching a new project called ‘Barça Vision’. This platform will serve as a dedicated space for the club’s digital content related to web3, NFTs, the metaverse, and blockchain technology.
The investment for this venture comes from two significant entities: Libero Football Finance AG from Germany and Nipa Capital B.V. from the Netherlands. As part of the deal, FC Barcelona has agreed to give up 29.5% of its shares in Bridgeburg Invest, the company overseeing ‘Barça Vision’.
At its core, Barça Vision represents FC Barcelona’s commitment to the digital age. Its goal is to merge elements of the digital world, with a particular focus on web3, blockchain, and most notably, NFTs (non-fungible tokens). Additionally, it aims to lead the way in the metaverse. Ultimately, this endeavor reflects FC Barcelona’s vision of creating a comprehensive digital ecosystem known as ‘digital Espai Barça’.
FC Barcelona has a history of embracing digital innovation. As early as February 2020, the club partnered with Chiliz, a blockchain pioneer, to create exclusive digital tokens for their extensive fanbase. This partnership grew stronger when Chiliz acquired a 24.5% stake in Barça Vision for a staggering $100 million in August 2022.
Continuing their digital dominance, FC Barcelona collaborated with Plastiks to launch a unique collection of NFTs in May. Titled “Unleash Your Passion”, this collection features 3,000 NFTs inspired by animals. Priced at $30 each, these NFTs serve as both digital collectibles and a symbol of environmental advocacy, aiming to eliminate 35 million kilograms of plastic from our ecosystem.
Expanding their impressive digital portfolio, the club auctioned off an NFT called “Masterpiece #1 In a way” in New York in July 2022, fetching an impressive $693,000. Its successor, “Masterpiece #2 – Empowerment”, was sold on a digital platform for $300,231 in June 2023.
It is important to note that the recent investment will only materialize once approved by FC Barcelona’s shareholders. Current indications suggest that the deal will be finalized by the end of 2023.
Through these initiatives, FC Barcelona emphasizes its mission of combining football excellence with digital innovation.
