Barcelona are set to create their own cryptocurrency and launch a range of Non-Fungible Tokens, president Joan Laporta reveals, as the club look for new ways of making revenue after financial crisis
- Joan Laporta has opened up on Barcelona’s grand plans to enter the metaverse
- The club are set to create their own cryptocurrency and Non-Fungible Tokens
- President Laporta revealed they rejected partnerships with crypto companies
Barcelona are planning to set up their own cryptocurrency and launch a range of Non-Fungible Tokens, according to club president Joan Laporta.
Laporta arrived back at the Nou Camp last March and inherited a financial nightmare, triggering them to look for new innovative ways of making money.
Indeed, it is understood a number of cryptocurrency companies have spoken to the club about a partnership, but those have been rejected.
Barcelona are planning to create their own cryptocurrency, president Joan Laporta revealed
Instead, they will look to develop their own digital current in-house.
Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Laporta outlined his sprawling vision and insisted it was important for them to be ‘imaginative’.
‘We’re developing our own metaverse, [which is why] we rejected the chance to be associated with any cryptocurrency enterprises,’ he said.
‘We want to create our own cryptocurrency and we have to do that ourselves. We are different because we survive financially from what we can generate through the industry of sport.
The club have enjoyed an uplift recently, but are looking for innovative ways of making money
‘We do not have big corporations or shareholders behind us. That forces us to be imaginative, innovative, brave and be a step ahead in many areas that surround the sports industry.’
Barcelona admitted to hefty debts of €1billion shortly after Laporta took up the reins, and they sold a number of players – including Lionel Messi – to cut down on wages.
Since then, they have looked to desperately strengthen their financial status, and hope introducing new digitals elements specific to them will help them with this.
‘It’s something we can share with our fans around the world – around 300 million of them,’ Laporta added. ‘I could announce something else, but I have to be prudent because it’s confidential still.
Speaking at a conference this week, Laporta opened up on his ambitious, sprawling proposals
‘The players know what we’re working on, that this is a modern club that makes use of new media. There are clauses in their contracts related to the NFT world and the metaverse.
‘We want to generate new opportunities for growth. Our goal is to win titles and to make our fans happy, but we also have to profit from opportunities in the sports industry.
‘It is a matter of survival.’
