Socios Equity Token: Chiliz Unveils Plans for On-chain Sports Ownership 

The Chiliz Group has announced plans to launch Socios Equity Token, a new category of regulated digital asset designed to give eligible fans and investors minority equity stakes in professional sports teams.

Under the proposed model, Chiliz will acquire minority stakes in participating clubs before offering structured economic interests through tokenized securities. The company says its aim is to make minority sports ownership more accessible, while allowing assets to be distributed and traded through digital ecosystems and external financial markets. 

Existing Fan Token assets will remain unchanged under the new plans, as Chiliz’ equity token would represent an entirely different asset class.

Socios Equity Token: A first for crypto and sport

Ultimately, Socios Equity Token will represent regulated financial interests connected to minority stakes in professional sports teams. 

As per Chiliz’ official announcement, the assets could provide holders with financial benefits associated with sports ownership, potentially including dividend payments and capital growth. The precise rights and utilities attached to each token will depend on its offering documents and the relevant regulatory framework. 

Chiliz founder and CEO Alexandre Dreyfus said the product was intended to address the difficulty fans and investors currently face when trying to acquire or sell minority interests in clubs. 

“By bringing a portion of club ownership on-chain, we’re opening up a new way to invest in sports,” Dreyfus said. 

Fans are interested in club ownership

Research commissioned by Chiliz and conducted by OnePoll found that 72% of surveyed football fans would be interested in purchasing a digital asset offering club equity. More than a quarter, or 28%, described themselves as “very interested”. 

The study surveyed 5,000 people across the UK, US, Italy, Spain and South Korea, with 1,000 respondents in each country. 

Around 77% said owning a financial interest in their club would make them feel more connected to it. Respondents said they would be prepared to commit an average of $1,240, while 21% expressed a willingness to invest more than approximately $1,350. 

Dividend payments were identified as an appealing benefit by 51% of respondents, followed by potential capital growth at 50%. 

Interest was highest in the US, where 85% of respondents said they would consider purchasing a club-ownership asset. US fans reported an average willingness to invest $1,395, behind only South Korean respondents at $1,481. 

Chiliz estimates that professional sports franchises are worth around $500 billion globally. 

Socios Equity Token are not replacing Fan Tokens

Socios Equity Token will operate alongside Fan Tokens, with the two products serving different purposes. 

Fan Tokens will remain Chiliz’s principal fan-engagement product, offering access to club-related polls, rewards and experiences through Socios.com. The platform currently works with more than 70 sporting organisations. 

Socios Equity Token, by comparison, will be regulated securities designed to provide eligible buyers with a financial interest in a professional sports asset. 

Individual launches will remain subject to club, league and regulatory approval. Details of participating teams, eligibility requirements, offering terms and launch dates have not yet been announced.