FC Barcelona, the renowned Spanish soccer club, is embarking on a significant expansion into the digital realm with plans to launch its own standalone cryptocurrency. This strategic decision was announced by President Joan Laporta at the Mobile World Congress 2022 in the Catalan city, signaling a deeper commitment to blockchain technology beyond their existing fan tokens.

This initiative marks a natural progression for FC Barcelona in the crypto space. Since 2020, the club has been actively involved with BAR, a fan token launched through socios.com. These BAR tokens offer holders various benefits, including the ability to influence team decisions, gain access to VIP experiences, and acquire official club merchandise. Several other prominent European football clubs, such as PSG, the Premier League’s West Ham, Italy’s AC Milan, and Poland’s Legia Warsaw, have also adopted similar fan token models.

Interestingly, FC Barcelona recently rejected sponsorship offers from major cryptocurrency companies like Polkadot and Binance, opting instead for a partnership with the music streaming platform Spotify. President Laporta clarified this decision, stating, “We’re developing our metaverse, [which is why] we rejected the chance to be associated with any cryptocurrency enterprises…” This shift indicates a desire for proprietary digital assets and ecosystems, positioning Barcelona to potentially become the first soccer team to launch its own independent cryptocurrency.

The club’s pivot towards self-developed blockchain solutions is primarily driven by financial imperatives. Laporta emphasized the need for Barca to