The English Premier League has teamed up with blockchain-powered fantasy sports firm Sorare to mint Ethereum-based digital player cards, as per a January 31st report.
Sorare, known for its innovative use of Ethereum in fantasy sports and digital card trading, will bring the Premier League to the fingertips of football fans.
According to a Sorare spokesperson, the discussions between both of them had been ongoing for some time, leading to the four-year deal that was officially announced on January 30th. However, the value of the partnership remains undisclosed for contractual reasons.
Sorare’s partnership with the Premier League began in 2019 when it signed West Ham United as its first English club partner. The company made an upfront downpayment for licensing rights, with digital card sales resulting in a percentage split between both of them.
Sorare uses the Ethereum blockchain to mint digital cards of Premier League players, utilizing the ERC-721 token standard for its NFT player cards. Fans can collect, trade, and use these cards to play in Sorare’s free-to-play fantasy sports league.
Additionally, the Premier League digital cards will be available for purchase on Sorare before being traded on compatible marketplaces like OpenSea. Sorare remains a strong advocate for connecting fans, players, and organizations with blockchain technology.
Next Generation Sports Fandom with Ethereum
Sorare’s goal is to connect fans, players, and organizations with blockchain technology, using it as a means to enhance sports fandom and entertainment.
For Sorare, this underlying technology is the means, not the ends, to connecting users with their favourite clubs, and we welcome it powering the next generation of sports fandom and entertainment.
According to the report, the Premier League digital cards will be available for purchase on Sorare before being open for trading on other NFT marketplaces.
The popularity of NFTs, including digital trading cards and sports highlights, has risen in recent years, with the explosion of NBA Top Shot in 2021.
However, the football world is increasingly discovering the potential of blockchain-based platforms. Sorare is proud to lead the way in this exciting new chapter of sports and technology.
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