Crypto.com to Sponsor Latin America’s Leading Soccer Competition

The company will serve as an official partner of the CONMEMBOL Copa Libertadores Cup starting in 2023. It plans to develop competition-related NFTs.

AccessTimeIconNov 26, 2021 at 6:14 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 7:08 p.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

After renaming the Staples Arena in a $700 million deal this month, Singapore-based crypto exchange Crypto.com will become an official partner of CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores, the highest level of club soccer team competition in South America.

Through an agreement with CONMEBOL, the governing body for soccer in South America, Crypto.com will serve as an official partner of CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores from 2023 to 2026 and as a licensee of the competition’s official non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as of 2022, the company said in a statement Thursday, without disclosing further terms.

  • Philadelphia 76ers President on Crypto Ad Patch Deal With Crypto.com
    09:28
    Philadelphia 76ers President on Crypto Ad Patch Deal With Crypto.com
  • European Football NFT Platform Sorare Raises $680M Series B
    04:32
    European Football NFT Platform Sorare Raises $680M Series B
  • AS Roma Football Club Signs $42M Deal With Blockchain Fintech Zytara Labs
    05:17
    AS Roma Football Club Signs $42M Deal With Blockchain Fintech Zytara Labs
  • Blockchain-Based Fantasy Soccer Platform Sorare to Raise $532M in Funding
    03:44
    Blockchain-Based Fantasy Soccer Platform Sorare to Raise $532M in Funding
  • The deal will make Crypto.com the latest participant in Latin American soccer’s NFT trend, which includes stars such as Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Pelé. In July, CONMEBOL teamed up with Ethernity Chain to mine the 47th Copa America trophy – a continental soccer tournament – as an NFT.

    As part of the agreement with CONMEBOL, Crypto.com will be the first brand to be integrated into the Virtual Assistant Referee (VAR) system through which referees review plays, the company added.

    “Additionally, Crypto.com will benefit from brand exposure in stadiums, activations and broadcasts of the Conmebol Libertadores, as well as digital assets”, the crypto exchange said, adding that both parties will create NFTs associated with the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores competition on the NFT platform of Crypto.com.

    “Our research shows Latin America is leading the way in embracing cryptocurrency, with 40% of Latin Americans saying they are interested in buying crypto in the near future. Naturally we were eager to support the continent’s most important football competition,” Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, said in a statement.

    Earlier this month, Crypto.com acquired the naming rights to the Staples Center, home to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association, in a 20-year deal.

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

    Andrés Engler

    Andrés Engler was a CoinDesk editor based in Argentina, where he covers the Latin American crypto ecosystem. He holds BTC and ETH.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.