Key Insights
- FC Barcelona secures €120 million investment from Libero Football Finance AG and Nipa Capital B.V. for its digital initiative, Barça Vision.
- The investment involves selling a 29.5% stake in Bridgeburg Invest, overseeing Barça Vision, to fuel its Web3 integration, including NFTs and the metaverse.
- The partnership aims to enhance the club’s digital growth and sustainability efforts.
Spanish football giant FC Barcelona has inked a substantial investment deal worth €120 million ($132 million) for its ambitious Web3 project, Barça Vision. The investment comes from Libero Football Finance AG and Nipa Capital B.V., both players with a keen interest in the intersection of sports and finance.
Strategic Investment Fuels Barça Vision’s Digital Revolution
In a significant move, FC Barcelona has divested a 29.5% stake in Bridgeburg Invest, the holding company overseeing Barça Vision, in exchange for the substantial capital injection. This strategic decision is set to turbocharge Barça Vision’s Web3 integration, encompassing diverse digital assets like NFTs and the metaverse, thereby aligning with the club’s broader digital Espai Barça strategy.
Libero Football Finance AG, a German consultancy that advises football clubs on financial matters, and Nipa Capital B.V., a Netherlands-based venture capital firm, have teamed up as strategic investors. Libero’s public listing in Germany attests to its financial expertise, while Nipa Capital’s domicile in the Netherlands underlines its significance in the European venture capital landscape.
While the partnership holds immense potential, the deal’s finalization is contingent upon approval from FC Barcelona’s shareholders. Expected to conclude in the fourth quarter of 2023, this investment signals a forward leap for the club’s digital ambitions.
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FC Barcelona’s Digital Journey
FC Barcelona’s foray into the digital realm dates back to its partnership with Chiliz blockchain in February 2020. Together, they introduced Ethereum-based FC Barcelona Fan Tokens (BAR), amplifying fan engagement and offering new avenues for interaction. The subsequent purchase of a significant stake in Barça Vision by Chiliz in August 2022 marked another milestone, setting the stage for more expansive digital initiatives.
Beyond digital engagement, FC Barcelona is making waves in the NFT space. The inaugural NFT collection, “Unleash Your Passion,” consisting of 3,000 animal-themed NFTs, demonstrates the club’s commitment to sustainability. Proceeds from these NFTs contribute to a noble cause, aiming to remove a staggering 35,000,000 kilograms of plastic from the planet.
Moreover, FC Barcelona’s foray into the world of NFT auctions has garnered attention. The first masterpiece from the series, “Masterpiece #1 In A Way,” fetched a remarkable $693,000 at Sotheby’s New York auction. Following suit, the sale of “Masterpiece #2 – Empowerment” on OpenSea in June 2023 for $300,231 continues to underscore the club’s prowess in the digital domain.