Barcelona Crypto Nightmare: How a Big Money Sponsorship Became a Big Money Liability

[Ben Graham]

A new crypto partnership meant to steady FC Barcelona’s finances has instead become a public headache within days.

FC Barcelona is facing growing criticism after confirming in mid-November that a Samoa-based company, Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP), would act as the club’s “Official Cryptographic Protocol Partner.” 

But by November 26, the club moved to distance itself from a digital token launched by the sponsor, insisting it had “no connection whatsoever” to the asset.

The controversy broke in Barcelona over the past 24 to 48 hours as fans and observers questioned who controls ZKP and why the club approved the arrangement. 

Global partnership with @ZKPofficial, new Official Blockchain Technology Partner of FC Barcelona. #BarçaxZKP

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 14, 2025

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Did Barcelona Officially Deny Any Link To ZKP’s Token?

Barcelona said the agreement never involved any token activity and added that it would provide updates once it obtained “conclusive information.”

The partnership was announced on November 14 with a three-year term running through 2028 and was described as a data privacy and security project rather than a token or fan-coin deal. 

Soon after, ZKP began promoting a token sale, leading to claims online that the club was indirectly endorsing an untested offering. 

In response, Barcelona issued a late-night statement on November 26 setting out three clear points: it has no links to ZKP’s token, holds no responsibility for its creation or control, and confirmed that neither the token nor the technology behind it was included in the sponsorship agreement.

Criticism has grown from football watchdogs and from inside Barcelona’s own circle. 

Martin Calladine, who has written about crypto in football, said the lack of clarity around ZKP is “deeply concerning” and warned that fans could be pushed toward tokens that may end up worth nothing. 

Former Barcelona director Xavier Vilajoana has also requested that the club explain how it vetted the deal initially.

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What Does Barcelona Mean By Promising “Transparency”?

ZKP describes itself as a privacy-focused, decentralised project. But key details remain unclear. 

Reporting over the past day shows the company is registered in Samoa and had earlier listed “Braxova Ltd” in its terms before quietly removing the reference. 

The firm also claimed major financial backing and moved quickly into a token sale, adding to doubts about who is really in charge and who is accountable.

Barcelona’s response marks its clearest attempt so far to protect its name while keeping the sponsorship agreement in place. 

The club’s statement stops short of any talk of suspension or cancellation. Instead, it promises “transparency” and says more information will follow.

The stance highlights a tricky reality for Barcelona. The club is still carrying a significant amount of debt. Recent reports indicate that its net liabilities exceed the hundreds of millions of euros, in addition to large loans tied to the stadium rebuild. That context explains why fresh commercial revenue matters so much.

The row also evokes mixed memories of Barça’s past in cryptocurrency. In 2021, the club withdrew from an NFT deal with Ownix after a person associated with the project was arrested. The club said it acted to protect its reputation.

A year later, FC Barcelona signed a separate three-season partnership with the exchange WhiteBIT, running through June 2025.

The deal was pitched as part of a wider push into digital ventures. Together, these episodes illustrate the allure of new sponsors and the risks associated with partnering with young or unproven entities.

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