FC Barcelona, the Spanish soccer club, has successfully secured a substantial investment of 120 million euros ($132 million) for its Web3 initiative, Barça Vision. The investment comes from Libero Football Finance AG and Nipa Capital B.V., marking a significant step in FC Barcelona's efforts to explore blockchain and NFT technology.
Investment Details and Stake Acquisition
On August 11, FC Barcelona announced that it had sold a 29.5% stake in Bridgeburg Invest, the holding company for Barça Vision, in exchange for the investment. Libero Football Finance AG, a German publicly listed company specializing in financial consulting for soccer clubs, and Nipa Capital B.V., a venture capital firm based in the Netherlands, are the entities providing the capital. The investment aims to further support Barça Vision, an initiative focused on integrating digital content, NFTs, and the metaverse using Web3 and blockchain technology.
Barça Vision and Digital Strategy
Barça Vision represents FC Barcelona's strategic approach to leveraging blockchain and Web3 technologies. The initiative encompasses digital content, NFTs, and the metaverse, aligning with the club's broader strategy to enhance the digital experience for fans and stakeholders. The digital Espai Barça, or digital space, is central to this strategy.
Previous Blockchain and NFT Endeavors
FC Barcelona has been actively exploring the blockchain and NFT space for some time. Since February 2020, the club has partnered with Chiliz blockchain to create FC Barcelona Fan Tokens (BAR) on the Ethereum blockchain. Chiliz also acquired a stake in Barça Vision in August 2022, demonstrating the growing collaboration between the two entities.
The club's NFT journey began with its inaugural NFT collection in May, titled "Unleash Your Passion." This collection, consisting of 3,000 animal-themed NFTs, aimed to contribute to environmental sustainability efforts.
Auction Success and Continued NFT Ventures
In July 2022, FC Barcelona successfully auctioned its first NFT, "Masterpiece #1 In A Way," at a Sotheby's New York auction for $693,000. The club continued its NFT ventures by selling the second collectible in the series, "Masterpiece #2 - Empowerment," on OpenSea for $300,231 in June 2023.
Conclusion
FC Barcelona's $132 million investment for its Web3 initiative, Barça Vision, marks a significant milestone in the club's exploration of blockchain technology and NFTs. The investment from Libero Football Finance AG and Nipa Capital B.V. demonstrates the growing interest and support for the integration of digital content, NFTs, and the metaverse within the sports industry.
