What are Fan Tokens?
In a nutshell, fan tokens are blockchain-based cryptocurrencies that give holders special rights and privileges related to a specific team or organisation. In some ways, fan tokens are like NFTs (non-fungible tokens), but unlike NFTs they are interchangeable, or fungible – meaning that they can be exchanged for products or services.
Typically, someone who holds fan tokens of, for example, a football team, will get voting rights (with votes weighted according to the number of tokens held) in certain team decisions, access to exclusive interactive features and events, and other rewards. However, unlike traditional club memberships, fan tokens can be traded on exchanges.
Fan Tokens vs NFTs
Fan Tokens are like special club memberships for fans, offering engagement and experiences, while NFTs are more like unique digital collectibles with value tied to their rarity and uniqueness. Both are exciting parts of the digital world, using blockchain to bring new experiences and opportunities!
Fan Tokens vs Crypto
Crypto, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, is a form of digital currency used for buying, selling, and investing. On the other hand, Fan Tokens are more like VIP passes to your favorite band’s backstage or a special key to an exclusive sports club.
How do Fan Tokens work?
Fan Tokens are a fascinating blend of fandom and technology. Here’s an informative breakdown of how they work:
- Blockchain Basis: Fan Tokens are built on blockchain technology, the same underlying technology behind cryptocurrencies. This ensures security, transparency, and authenticity.
- Issuance and Ownership: Typically, these tokens are issued by sports teams, music bands, or other entities looking to engage with their fan base. Fans can buy these tokens through various platforms, often requiring a specific cryptocurrency.
- Engagement and Influence: The main allure of Fan Tokens is the engagement and influence they offer to fans. Token holders may vote on decisions like team jersey designs, song choices for a concert, or other fan-engaging topics. It’s a way for fans to have a say in some aspects of their favourite team or band.
- Exclusive Perks and Access: Beyond voting, these tokens can offer exclusive perks such as access to VIP experiences, special merchandise, meet-and-greets, and more. It’s like a loyalty program on steroids.
- Limited Supply and Tradable Nature: Like any market-driven asset, Fan Tokens often have a limited supply, making them potentially valuable to fans. They can be traded on various platforms, and their value can fluctuate based on demand, team performance, or other market factors.
- Community Building: Beyond the perks and voting, Fan Tokens are a tool for building a digital community. They connect fans globally and create a shared sense of belonging and participation in their favourite team or band’s journey.
| Did you know?In late 2022, AC Milan fan token holders got the right to enter an exclusive draw to win the prize of travelling with the first team as they flew to London to play in a Champions League match. Source: Socios Italia |
What are popular Types of Fan Tokens?
At the time of writing, football (or soccer for our North American friends) has embraced fan tokens more enthusiastically than any other sport. In fact, by mid 2022, many European, Latin American, and Asian clubs and organisations were already offering fan tokens. But, the trend was also starting to catch on with other sectors, especially esports and motorsport.
Interestingly, North American leagues and teams are showing interest in fan tokens, and have partnered with apps like Socios.com (more on that later), but have been slow in actually issuing fan tokens – largely due to regulatory uncertainty.
Football Fan Tokens
The following football clubs had either issued fan tokens, or were planning an FTO (fan token offering) at the time of writing:
| FOOTBALL CLUB | FAN TOKEN CODE |
| FC Barcelona | $BAR |
| Juventus | $JUV |
| Paris Saint-Germain | $PSG |
| AC Milan | $ACM |
| AS Roma | $ASR |
| Atletico de Madrid | $ATM |
| Club Atletico Independiente | $CAI |
| Galatasaray S.K. | $GAL |
| Instanbul Basaksehir FK | $IBFK |
| Manchester City FC | $CITY |
| Novara Calcio | $NOV |
| Sint-Truidense Voetbalvereniging | $STV |
| Trabzonspor | $TRA |
| Universidad de Chile | $UCH |
| BSC Young Boys | $YBO |
| Apollon Limassol FV | $APL |
| Legia Warsaw | $LEG |
| Fortuna Sittard | $FOR |
| Goztepe S.K. | $GOZ |
| Alanyaspor | $ALA |
| Levante U.D. | $LEV |
| Argentine Football Association | $ARG |
| Club Atletico Mineiro | $GALO |
| Valencia CF | $VCF |
| Corinthians | $SCCP |
| Portugal National Team | $POR |
| Arsenal FC | $AFC |
| FC Internazionale Milano | $INTER |
| GNK Dinamo Zagreb | $DZG |
| Everton Football Club | $EFC |
| Leeds United FC | $LUFC |
| Aston Villa | $AVL |
| Flamengo | $MENGO |
| Samsunspor | $SAM |
| Sao Paulo FC | $SPFC |
| Racing Club | $RACING |
| Bologna FC | $BFC |
| Gaziantep F.K. | $GFK |
| Napoli | $NAP |
| Millonarios FC | $MFC |
| Club Santos Laguna | $SAN |
| Atlas FC | $ATLAS |
| AS Monaco FC | $ASM |
| Italy National Team | $ITA |
| CR Vasco da Gama | $VASCO |
| Club Atletico River Plate | $CARP |
| Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras | $VERDAO |
| Crystal Palace F.C. | $CPFC |
| Sevilla FC | $SEVILLA |
| Udinese Calcio | $UDI |
| S.C. Internacional | $SACI |
| Esporte Clube Bahia | $BAHIA |
| Fluminense | $FLU |
| S.L. Benfica | $BENFICA |
| Persib Bandung | $PERSIB |
| Persija | $PRSJ |
| Chivas | $CHVS |
| Bali United | $BALI |
| Real Sociedad | $RSO |
| Tigres | $TIGRES |
Esports Fan Tokens
Professional esports organisations and teams have also been among the first to launch fan tokens, giving their fans access to influence and opportunities.
| ESPORTS ORG. | FAN TOKEN CODE |
| Natus Vincere | $NAVI |
| Vitality | $VIT |
| Team Heretics | $TH |
| OG | $OG |
| Alliance | $ALL |
| Endpoint CEX | $ENDCEX |
| Made in Brasil | $MIBR |
| Did you know? In late 2021, pro esports organisation NAVI let its fan token holders vote to choose the new in-game banner for DOTA2. Source: Natus Vincere |
Motorsport Fan Tokens
Car racing teams have also begun to discover the benefits of issuing fan tokens to connect with audiences and monetise their brands. So far, only a handful of motorsports teams have issued tokens, but we expect this to change as they become more popular.
| MOTORSPORT TEAM | FAN TOKEN CODE |
| Roush Fenway Racing (NASCAR) | $ROUSH |
| Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team | $AM |
| Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN | $SAUBER |
Rugby Fan Tokens
Several European rugby teams have already issued fan tokens, and we expect more will follow suit soon. Those currently on the market include:
| RUGBY TEAM | FAN TOKEN CODE |
| Harlequins | $QUINS |
| Leicester Tigers | $TIGERS |
| Saracens | $SARRIES |
| Stade Francais Paris | To be issued |
| The Sharks | To be issued |
Tennis Fan Tokens
Even tennis has got in on the action, with the Davis Cup issued a fan token (code: $DAVIS).
American Football Fan Tokens
Although at the time of writing, no American football teams had actually issued fan tokens, several NFL teams had partnered with Socios.com – a fan token ecosystem – so are likely to issue them at some time in the future. These include:
- Atlanta Falcons
- Baltimore Ravens
- Chicago Bears
- Cleveland Browns
- LA Chargers
- LA Rams
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- San Francisco 49ers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Washington Commanders
Basketball Fan Tokens
Again, like American football, no NBA or WNBA teams had issued fan tokens at the time of writing, but many had partnered with Socios.com – indicating we may be seeing fan tokens issued in the near future. These basketball teams include:
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Boston Celtics
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Sacramento Kings
- Orlando Magic
- LA Clippers
- Houston Rockets
- Chicago Bulls
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Detroit Pistons
- Golden State Warriors
- Washington Wizards
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- San Antonio Spurs
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Indiana Pacers
- Brooklyn Nets
- Utah Jazz
- Phoenix Suns
- Atlanta Hawks
- Memphis Grizzlies
- LA Lakers
- Denver Nuggets
- NY Knicks
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Portland Trail Blazers
Ice Hockey Fan Tokens
Like other US leagues, no NHL teams had issued fan tokens at the time of writing, but several had entered partnerships with Socios.com – indicating we might be seeing FTOs (fan token offerings) soon. These include:
- NY Islanders
- Washington Capitals
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Florida Panthers
- Detroit Red Wings
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Dallas Stars
- Vancouver Canucks
- Anaheim Ducks
- Vegas Golden Knights
- LA Kings
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- New York Rangers
- New Jersey Devils
MLS Fan Tokens
Although many European, South American and Asian soccer teams have already issued fan tokens, in the US and Canada Major League Soccer teams have been hesitant. Despite this, many are now partnered with Socios.com – suggesting they might launch FTOs soon. These include:
- Atlanta United FC
- Austin FC
- CF Montreal
- Chicago Fire FC
- Columbus Crew
- FC Dallas
- FC Cincinnati
- Houston Dynamo FC
- Los Angeles FC
- LA Galaxy
- Inter Miami CF
- Minnesota United FC
- Nashville FC
- New England Revolution
- New York City FC
- New York Red Bulls
- Orlando City SC
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Colorado Rapids
- Real Salt Lake
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Sporting Kansas City
- Portland Timbers
- Toronto FC
- Philadelphia Union
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Fighting Fan Tokens
Both the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s biggest MMA fighting organisations, have partnered with Socios.com, suggesting they may issue fan tokens soon.
How to Buy and Use Fan Tokens
Getting your hands on fan tokens is getting easier, but still not as convenient as other NFTs or cryptocurrencies. While fan tokens are increasingly listed on major crypto exchanges, like Binance, the simplest way of acquiring them at the moment is through a dedicated platform like Socios.com.
Where to use Fan Tokens
Binance, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, offers a Fan Token platform. Fans can find top teams and enjoy a new fan engagement experience. This platform also includes features like predicting the outcome of real-time matches and receiving Star Points, which can be redeemed for exclusive rewards.
Chiliz is a leading sports and entertainment blockchain, and Socios.com is a crowd-management platform that leverages the power of Chiliz. Most Fan Tokens, especially those associated with sports teams, are built on the Chiliz blockchain.
Socios.com
With international and US apps, Socios is constantly expanding its lead as the premier player in the fan token ecosystem. It is an all-in-one engagement platform where you can influence, play, win and trade fan tokens.
How to get started with Socios.com:
- Download the app (available for Android, iOS, and web browsers)
- Follow the instructions to create an account
- Purchase some Chiliz ($CHZ) – the native crypto token of Socios
- Exchange Chiliz for fan tokens of your choice
- Get started with influencing your team/s and unlocking exclusive rewards
| Did you know? In October 2020, Barcelona fan token holders got to choose the songs that formed the playlist for the team at the Camp Nou. The songs were played as the team began their pre-match warm up and as they returned to the pitch after half-time. Source – Socios.com |
What are Fan Token Laws and Regulations in the UK?
Fan Tokens in the UK, like other crypto assets, are subject to a regulatory framework that’s evolving and adapting to the growing digital asset market. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the primary regulatory body overseeing crypto assets, including Fan Tokens.
Fan Tokens fall under the category of utility tokens, which are used to access specific products or services rather than as investments. The FCA has clarified that both exchange tokens (like Bitcoin) and utility tokens (such as Fan Tokens) are currently outside its regulatory perimeter. However, security tokens, which provide rights to payments or assets, are within the FCA’s regulatory scope.
Conclusion
Fan Tokens are becoming a unique way for fans to interact with their favorite teams, artists, and celebrities, providing a sense of belonging and participation in the digital age. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, it’s likely we’ll see even more innovative uses of Fan Tokens across various industries.