- This week marks the fifth anniversary of the launch of Paris Saint Germain’s $PSG Fan Token.
- The club has embraced its official digital asset, creating countless new opportunities for its global fanbase.
- PSG doubled down on its commitment to being at the forefront of Web3 sports innovation by becoming a Chiliz Chain validator in February 2023.
PARIS. JANUARY 28TH. Five years ago, Paris Saint Germain embarked on a new Web3 journey by launching its official Fan Token — a move which would help redefine the relationship between blockchain and sport.
Part of a group of early adopters, including Juventus and Atlético Madrid, PSG set its sights on utilising Fan Tokens as a means to connect and monetize its global fanbase – offering fans a truly unique asset to enhance their engagement with the club. The club has gone beyond the initial brief and has positioned itself as one of Chiliz’s key collaborators for developing innovative blockchain use cases within sport by becoming a Validator on Chiliz Chain – The Sports Blockchain.
Here, we recap the story so far and look forward to what’s coming next with a little help from the club’s Head of PSG Labs Pär Helgosson and some passionate $PSG Fan Token holders.
$PSG: The story so far
$PSG Fan Token launches
Paris Saint Germain launched their $PSG Fan Token in January 2020 and soon after followed it up with the launch of its first ever team poll to choose an inspirational message for Thiago Silva’s captain’s armband.
Enter Messi
The world watched on as Lionel Messi swapped Barcelona for Paris in 2021, but $PSG Fan Tokens also took a portion of the limelight as the Argentine legend’s package included the club’s official digital assets. The inclusion of a crypto asset in a deal of this nature and magnitude was a world-first.
Global fans connect with the club
Since the launch of the $PSG Fan Token there have been 400,000+ votes recorded using $PSG Fan Tokens. Over 1,000 unique rewards and experiences have been redeemed with fans playing on the pitch at the Parc des Princes, meeting players, watching games as VIPs and more. As it stands the club’s Fan Token community spans over 140 countries and there have been more than 6 million Fan Tokens sold.
PSG becomes the world’s first sports team validator
The club became a Chiliz Chain validator last year and is now playing a vital role in shaping the future of Web3 sport. Chiliz will look to leverage PSG’s unique sets of expertise and resources as it joins the likes of leading lights from the industry such as OKX and Animoca Brands in ensuring chain governance and security.
What $PSG Fan Tokens mean to holders.
Having initially fallen under the spell of past club legends Raí, Jay-Jay Okocha and Bernard Lama, it’s the ability to vote in polls which Fan Token holder, Nithiya, feels has connected him with the club the most through $PSG Fan Tokens: “The most important thing is to be able to interact with the club, by voting on everyday subjects, like a real ‘socios’!”
PSG fans have been able to have their say on multiple club decisions, including choosing inspirational locker room messages, songs to be played after winning trophies and a stadium mural design to feature on the facade of the Parc des Princes to celebrate PSG’s 10th Ligue 1 title.
Nithiya has also enjoyed experiences he never thought possible before becoming a Fan Token holder during the club’s initial FTO (Fan Token Offering) in 2020.
“Whether it be meeting players, going to the VIP box or even chatting with players on video, Fan Tokens have allowed me to live incredible experiences which I could not have otherwise.”
What’s coming next?
Paris Saint Germain’s commitment to blockchain innovation was further confirmed when they became the first elite football club in the world to appoint a Head of Web3, a role held by industry expert Pär Helgosson.
Looking ahead, Pär says that $PSG Fan Tokens and Chiliz Chain are at the heart of the club’s long-term Web3 vision.
“Fan Tokens remain at the very core of our Web3 strategy. In just five years, we’ve put ourselves at the forefront of the sports x blockchain conversation and have already given PSG’s global community a glimpse of the tangible benefits the technology can provide.
“Next, it will be about building on the foundations we’ve laid in Chiliz’s SportFi ecosystem; fostering a new level of innovation stretching beyond just fan engagement. We’ve only scratched the surface with Fan Tokens and remain firmly committed to exploring the boundless utility they can offer our fans worldwide.”
Chiliz will take its relationship with the club one step further this Summer as it invites developers from all over the world to participate in a first-of-its kind hackathon hosted at the Parc des Princes.
