New York-listed tokenized asset firm Securitize is partnering with sports fan engagement company Socios to develop a platform for offering blockchain-based shares in professional football clubs, potentially opening access to an asset class that has traditionally remained largely private.
The companies announced a strategic partnership focused on developing regulated equity offerings representing minority interests in professional sports teams. Securitize, which manages about $5 billion in assets and has a market capitalization of roughly $1 billion, is expected to provide the infrastructure for issuing and administering the tokenized shares.
The partnership aims to establish regulated investment infrastructure that would allow investors to gain exposure to minority stakes in professional sports teams through tokenized equity while maintaining the legal protections associated with regulated securities.
The initiative comes as financial markets increasingly explore the use of blockchain technology to represent ownership in traditional assets. The London Stock Exchange has also announced plans involving tokenized equity structures in the United Kingdom, potentially creating additional opportunities for blockchain-based securities to operate within regulated financial markets.
Socios to Lead Sports Industry Engagement
Socios has previously developed fan tokens connected to major football clubs, including Arsenal, Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain. Its approach has faced criticism from some supporter groups, particularly over concerns that fan-token systems could give paying participants an influence that is disproportionate to ordinary supporters.
The company did not specify whether the proposed equity offerings would initially involve British football clubs. However, the firms are understood to be in discussions with teams across Europe’s five major football leagues, covering England, France, Spain, Italy and Germany.
Under the partnership structure, Socios will focus on building relationships throughout the sports industry and developing the consumer-facing engagement component of the platform. This would give clubs and their owners a mechanism to combine equity ownership with digital fan engagement.
Securitize, meanwhile, will be responsible for the regulated financial infrastructure. Its responsibilities are expected to include securities issuance, investor onboarding, ownership-record management, transfer restrictions and ongoing administration through its regulated affiliates.
Blockchain Interest in Football Ownership Expands
Blockchain-based transactions involving football clubs have already occurred, although direct tokenized ownership remains relatively uncommon.
Italian Serie C club Rimini FC previously sold a 25% stake to Heritage Sports Holdings, with cryptocurrency Quantocoin used in the transaction. The deal demonstrated how digital assets could be incorporated into sports ownership transactions.
English club Watford also explored a blockchain-related investment model in 2024. The club proposed allowing fans to participate in an investment linked to a valuation of £175 million, with contributions accepted in dollars or British pounds. The initiative was subsequently canceled in 2025.
2/ Socios will lead relationships across the sports industry and develop the fan-facing engagement layer.
Securitize will lead securities issuance, investor onboarding, ownership records, transfer controls, and ongoing servicing through its regulated affiliates. pic.twitter.com/iuseGhTzou
— Securitize (@Securitize) September 2, 2026
Real Bedford, an English non-league club, has also embraced cryptocurrency by accepting digital assets for merchandise and matchday tickets. However, a 45% stake in the club acquired by Bitcoin entrepreneurs Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss was completed using traditional payment methods rather than cryptocurrency.
Securitize Sees Broader Investor Access
Securitize co-founder Carlos Domingo said the partnership reflects the potential for professional sports teams to become a more accessible investment category. He indicated that ownership of sports franchises has generally been difficult for ordinary investors to access because significant stakes tend to remain privately held.
Domingo also said Securitize’s regulated infrastructure across the United States and Europe could give clubs and their owners another method for issuing and managing equity while retaining investor protections and legally recognized ownership rights.
For sports teams and owners, tokenized equity could provide a new fundraising channel while giving investors a structured way to hold minority ownership interests with blockchain-based records and regulated transfer controls.
The proposed platform will nevertheless depend on regulatory approvals, club participation and the structure of individual offerings. The partnership’s focus on regulated securities distinguishes the initiative from earlier fan-token models, which generally centered on digital engagement rather than direct ownership of club equity.
If implemented, the model could represent a broader shift in how professional sports ownership is financed, bringing blockchain-based investment infrastructure closer to conventional securities markets while giving football clubs another potential source of capital.
