Barcelona wish to create their very own cryptocurrency to assist them “survive financially” in opposition to golf equipment owned by massive firms and overseas traders, president Joan Laporta has stated.
Talking on the Cell World Congress within the Catalan metropolis this week, Laporta stated Barca will launch a variety of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) within the close to future and are additionally engaged on getting into the cryptocurrency market.
– La Liga on ESPN+: Stream LIVE video games and replays (U.S. solely)
Barca have turned down quite a few gives to companion with cryptocurrency corporations as a result of they wish to deal with creating their very own digital forex in-house.
“We’re creating our personal metaverse, [which is why] we rejected the prospect to be related to any cryptocurrency enterprises,” Laporta stated as a part of a wider presentation.
“We wish to create our personal cryptocurrency and we have now to do this ourselves. We’re totally different as a result of we survive financially from what we are able to generate by way of the trade of sport.
“We should not have massive firms or shareholders behind us. That forces us to be imaginative, progressive, courageous and be a step forward in lots of areas that encompass the sports activities trade.”
Laporta added that the membership hope to current their first vary of NFTs quickly as a part of a challenge that can “assist the membership’s funds.
“It is one thing we are able to share with our followers world wide — round 300 million of them,” he stated. “I may announce one thing else, however I’ve to be prudent as a result of it is confidential nonetheless.
“The gamers know what we’re engaged on, that it is a trendy membership that makes use of recent media. There are clauses of their contracts associated to the NFT world and the metaverse.”
On sporting points, Laporta additionally stated that he hopes ahead Ousmane Dembele decides to remain on the membership past the expiration of his contract in June.
Dembele, 24, was instructed to depart the membership in June after refusing to signal a brand new deal, however coach Xavi Hernandez has introduced him again into the aspect in latest weeks, with the ahead scoring one and establishing two in Sunday’s 4-0 win in opposition to Athletic Bilbao.
“He is aware of what our proposal is and that we have now at all times needed him to remain,” Laporta stated. “I hope he reconsiders his resolution to resume on the finish of the season.”
The feedback characterize a change of route from Laporta, who at the beginning of February steered he was in opposition to Dembele taking part in for the membership once more and insinuating that he believed the winger had already reached an settlement to hitch one other membership at no cost in the summertime.