The Houston Rockets Join Sports Blockchain & Crypto Movement
Blockchain and cryptocurrency continue to work towards mainstream approval — and professional sports sponsorships are a fast track to creating mainstream-worthy buzz. Companies like eToro have announced an advertising partnership with seven premier league football clubs to be paid using bitcoin. Other teams like Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks will accept cryptocurrency for the purchase of tickets and merchandise. Blockchain technology is also booming in sports betting platforms like Wagerr and FansUnite.
On Monday, one of the world’s largest crypto and bitcoin mining companies jumped in on the action. Bitmain’s AntPool announced they would become an official partner of the Houston Rockets (NBA).
“We’re excited to work with AntPool as a conduit in the U.S. for their ever-growing business,” added Rockets vice president of corporate development John Croley. “The Rockets are always looking to stay ahead of the curve with technology both on and off the court and AntPool’s prowess with crypto currency makes for a great partnership.”
Antpool is more than excited to expand overseas and join the booming sports crypto movement in the West. While the crypto industry continues to find its way to the mainstream, various sports-related collaborations provide a way for new demographics to become more educated in the future of technology.
“As the cryptocurrency industry around the globe continues to evolve and develop, it is going to be more and more important for companies like AntPool to lead the conversation and conversion of consumers to adopt and understand digital currencies,” said AntPool overseas operations manager Haijiao Li. “It is an exciting time, and we welcome Rockets fans and those traveling to Houston to visit our showcase at Toyota Center and learn more about the technology that will change the world.”
Another recent overseas partnership brought together French football club, Paris Saint. Germain with blockchain platform Socios. Socios is working with PSG to develop a fan-token platform. This branded cryptocurrency partnership will be the first in the world to offer a Fan Token Offering (FTO). The goal is to increase fan engagement through mobile voting. Token holders will also be guaranteed unique fan-related benefits.
Marc Armstrong, Chief Partnerships Officer of PSG, said, “Always at the forefront of digital innovation, Paris Saint-Germain is determined to leverage the opportunities that cryptocurrency can provide. This revolutionary technology will have an important impact on the Club’s overall business strategy and the way we engage with our fan base.”
Sports sponsorships can have so many positive effects for a brand, but it’s not often that the sponsorship opens up a door for fans to see into the future of fintech. Examples like Antpool’s partnership with the Rockets continue to confirm that crypto, blockchain, and sports were meant to be paired together. The endless applications of blockchain and crypto are meant to be exposed and the professional sports community is putting this technology on a fast track to major success.
