April 28 – Football media platform OneFootball has raised $300 million to accelerate its growth and in particular an expansion into Web3, a new iteration of the internet based on blockchain technology.
OneFootball’s claims more than 100 million monthly active users with its football content proposition from hundreds of leagues and competitions worldwide. Its free and pay-per-view live streamed football platform saw more than 15,000 livestreams and on-demand content clips in 2021.
The fundraising was led by blockchain fund and incubator Liberty City Ventures and will be used to support OneFootball’s current business as well as its new joint venture – OneFootball Labs (with Animoca Brands and Liberty City Ventures – and backed by Everest Ventures Group) – and investments in leading Web3 companies, said a company statement.
OneFootball Labs will enable content partners – clubs, leagues, federations and players – to release digital assets and fan-centric experiences based on blockchain technology.
“These products will be offered at different price points to make them widely accessible and fans will also be able to purchase and store digital collectibles (NFTs) with just their email and a credit card,” said OneFootball.
Lucas von Cranach, Founder and CEO of OneFootball said: “OneFootball will take tens of millions of football supporters from Web2 to Web3, while retaining the thing our platform was built on – a commitment to the real-world fan…
“We believe the future of football away from the stands and off the pitch will be decentralised and built on Web3, giving back the ownership of data and digital assets to the fans. OneFootball and OneFootball Labs will transform the digital experiences for football fans, giving them more access, more ownership and bringing them even closer to the game we all love, in a way that’s never been done before.”
Yat Siu, the co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, will join the boards of OneFootball and OneFootball Labs.
“Over the last year, the sporting universe has made progress in harnessing the potential of NFTs and gaming, offering fans new digital experiences based on the important principles of true digital ownership and decentralisation. Animoca Brands is proud to have played a role in nearly every significant milestone in the development of true digital property rights via NFTs. Bringing Web3 to the biggest sport in the world – football – through our participation in the OneFootball Labs joint venture is a match made in heaven,” said Siu.
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