The controversial Samoan-registered startup Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) has become the new cryptocurrency sponsor of FC Barcelona.
The team management signed a three-year contract with ZKP, which became official Block- a partner of the «Blaugrana.» The deal’s value has not been disclosed, but given Barça’s achievements, it’s clear we’re talking tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars.
ZKP, named after the cryptographic method «zero-knowledge proof,» was unheard of before its partnership with the club. Furthermore, the first post published by the company’s employees on the social media site X, which is banned in Russia, was about a partnership with Barcelona. The company’s website provides no information about its employees or the investors who allegedly invested $100 million in the company’s business.
Former Barça board member Javier Vilajoana, who is currently running for the club’s presidency, criticized the decision to partner with a startup despite numerous «red flags.» He called the deal a sign of desperation, apparently alluding to the team’s financial problems.
Javier Vilajoana
On November 29, ZKP will hold an auction for its native ZKP cryptocurrency, leading to reasonable speculation that the company has become a sponsor of the football club to promote its digital assets. Due to the lack of confidence in the company’s reliability, experts are concerned that Barcelona fans could be lured into a scam and suffer losses by purchasing ZKP tokens.