FC Barcelona Secures $132M for Web3 and NFT Venture

• FC Barcelona secures $132 million from Libero Football Finance and Nipa Capital for its Web3 initiative.
• Barça Vision aims to integrate blockchain, NFTs, and the metaverse in the digital Espai Barça strategy.
• The investment is subject to shareholder approval, with closing expected in Q4 2023.

Spanish football powerhouse FC Barcelona has taken a significant step towards its digital future by securing a substantial investment of 120 million euros ($132 million) for its Web3 initiative, Barça Vision. Libero Football Finance AG and Nipa Capital B.V. are the financial backers behind the endeavor.

Specifically, the funding was realized through FC Barcelona's sale of a 29.5% stake in Bridgeburg Invest, the holding company for Barça Vision. This digital initiative aims to integrate various digital content aspects. These include blockchain technology, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and the metaverse. The primary goal is to advance the club's strategy in constructing the digital Espai Barça.

Libero Football Finance AG is German company and specializes in financial consultancy for soccer clubs. On the other hand, Nipa Capital B.V. is a venture capital firm headquartered in the Netherlands. However, the investment's finalization is contingent upon approval from FC Barcelona's shareholders. The closing will likely happen in the fourth quarter of 2023.

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FC Barcelona NFT Journey

FC Barcelona's journey into blockchain and NFTs started in February 2020. This was when it collaborated with Chiliz blockchain to introduce FC Barcelona Fan Tokens (BAR) on the Ethereum network. Chiliz later invested $100 million for a 24.5% stake in Barça Vision.

In recent months, FC Barcelona has made strides in the NFT space. It launched its inaugural NFT collection, "Unleash Your Passion," designed to support environmental efforts by contributing to plastic reduction. Notably, the football club also ventured into high-profile NFT auctions. Its “Masterpiece #1 In A Way” and “Masterpiece #2 - Empowerment” fetched impressive prices.

The substantial investment underlines FC Barcelona's commitment to embracing blockchain and NFT technologies, setting the stage for innovative developments in the intersection of sports and digital assets.