Fans are surprised, experts are alarmed

⚽ A famous club signs a contract with a little-known crypto project, and specialists are sounding the alarm

The football club Barcelona, one of the most popular clubs in the world with a global fan base of more than 428 million people, has signed a three-year contract worth $22,000,000 with the little-known crypto project ZKP (Zero Knowledge Proof), registered in Samoa. The deal, officially announced on November 14, 2025 and valid until 2028, grants ZKP the right to promote its products through the club’s media channels and to participate in joint initiatives combining sports, technology and community.

Despite the official release, the partnership has sparked a wave of criticism among experts, fans and the press. The main reason for concern is that the startup has virtually no transparent information about the team and investors, and the first public mention of the company appeared only after the partnership with the club was announced. With the upcoming token sale, many analysts fear that the club’s fans may be drawn into a potentially fraudulent project.

According to ZKP, the agreement includes the possibility of implementing educational initiatives, fan engagement cases and other joint projects aimed at integrating technologies into the sports environment. However, experts express doubts about the feasibility of these plans.

Criticism from experts and former club officials

Financial Times reports that the deal has drawn sharp criticism. Martin Calladine, the author of the book “No Questions Asked: How football joined the crypto con,” called it one of the most outrageous in the sports industry. He emphasized that the lack of transparent information about the project and its leadership raises serious concerns.

A similar opinion is shared by former Barcelona board chairman Xavier Vilajoana. In his view, the partnership with a little-known crypto startup is a sign of “desperation” among the club’s management caused by financial problems.

The mechanism of the ZKP token sale itself has also come under criticism. According to the project’s official website, the company allegedly puts 200 million ZKP up for trading every day. Such an “auction” raises additional concerns among experts, as it is unclear who is behind this process and how safe it is for investors and fans.

The club distances itself from the sponsor and its assets

In a subsequent official statement, the club stressed that it has nothing to do with the ZKP cryptocurrency, and its issuance was not part of the original terms of the agreement. This was an attempt to distance itself from the project amid growing criticism and fears of potential financial losses for fans.

According to the press, the volume of obligations under the contract is about $1.45 billion, which is a record amount in the history of football sponsorship agreements. Experts believe that such a deal increases the risks for the club’s reputation and its fan base.

Industry context

This is not the first time football clubs have entered into agreements with crypto projects. For example, Floki is an official partner of the Nottingham Forest team in the English Premier League (EPL). However, experts emphasize that ZKP stands out for its extremely low transparency, the absence of public information about key project figures, and questionable methods of promoting its token.

Many analysts warn that given the broad reach of Barcelona’s fan base, this partnership could become an example of how sports brands are used as tools to promote crypto assets with high risks for investors.

💡 Conclusion

Barcelona’s contract with ZKP demonstrates the growing trend of football clubs collaborating with crypto projects, but also highlights the need for caution. With limited information about the partner and potential financial risks, fans and investors are advised to carefully assess the prospects and safety of such initiatives, while the club should reconsider its policy on working with little-known crypto companies to protect its reputation and the interests of its supporters.