FC Barcelona has reconsidered its relationship with crypto partner Zero Knowledge Proof.
Date: 2025-12-01 Author: Henry Casey Categories: BUSINESS
In late November, a controversy erupted around the collaboration between FC Barcelona and the crypto company Zero Knowledge Proof. The club had recently introduced the startup as a partner and announced plans for a long-term collaboration, but after some time, it effectively distanced itself from the agreement. This was due to concerns about the impact on fans and a lack of transparency about the project itself.
The partnership was announced on November 14, 2025. At the time, the club announced that the agreement was for three years and would include the presence of ZKP in Barcelona's media channels. The announcement also mentioned joint initiatives related to the sports industry, technological tools, and fan engagement, ranging from educational events to audience outreach projects. The startup presented the collaboration as an opportunity to combine crypto technologies and sports culture, and later announced the launch of its own digital asset.
However, almost immediately after the announcement, doubts about the deal's feasibility emerged in the press. The Financial Times quoted Martin Calladine, author of a book on the role of the crypto industry in the football business. He called the agreement one of the most controversial in the market, noting the lack of public information about the company. Former Barcelona chairman Javier Vilajoana expressed a similar view, seeing the agreement as a sign of financial pressure on the club's management.
Additionally, questions were raised by the startup's operations in Samoa, where, according to critics, the company was offering significant volumes of its own token for sale daily. The official ZKP website states that offerings could reach 200 million coins per day, raising concerns about the sustainability and transparency of the project.
Sometime later, the club issued a separate press release. It emphasized that Barcelona had no connection with the ZKP token and that its issuance was not part of the original agreements. Thus, the club attempted to separate its name from the digital asset, limiting the partnership to the initial framework.
The situation has also attracted additional interest due to Barcelona's financial situation. The club's debt is reported to exceed $1.45 billion, a record high for world football. Against this backdrop, any risky deals are viewed with particular sensitivity.
Collaborations between football teams and crypto projects have become increasingly common in recent years. One example is Floki, which officially partners with English EPL club Nottingham Forest. However, the situation surrounding ZKP demonstrates that such partnerships increasingly require additional scrutiny and public oversight.
