barcelona

FC Barcelona has found itself in the middle of a storm after announcing a new and highly controversial partnership with the startup Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) — a company registered in Samoa, with virtually no online presence and almost no publicly known leadership.
While the club promotes the collaboration as a technological step forward, experts and supporters claim that Barcelona is ignoring obvious red flags just to raise desperately needed cash. According to them, the deal creates a serious risk that uninformed fans might be drawn into buying speculative crypto tokens.

A Startup With No History and a Shady Background
The three-year agreement, revealed only recently, appoints ZKP as Barcelona’s “official blockchain partner.”

The problem is evident from the start — the company had nearly zero digital footprint before the announcement.

ZKP made its debut on social media with a single post on X, viewed by only a handful of people.

For a company claiming ties to one of the world’s most iconic football clubs, it was a suspiciously quiet entrance.
The startup is built around “zero-knowledge proof” technology — a cryptographic method that allows someone to prove they own funds without revealing personal details.

Ironically, while the method promotes transparency, the company itself is anything but transparent.
ZKP:
🔹 does not disclose its leadership

🔹 does not explain the origin of its alleged 100 million USD funding

🔹 lists Samoa as its legal jurisdiction — far from any financial hub
On its website, ZKP even mocks requests for transparency:

“As if knowing the names would strengthen our code. It won’t.”

ZKP Launches Token Auction — Critics Warn of High Risk
Despite the secrecy, the startup has already held its first token auction — offering 200 million “zero-knowledge tokens” to the public, despite revealing little to nothing about its operations.
Martin Calladine, author of a book on crypto fraud in football, describes Barcelona’s partnership with ZKP as “deeply alarming.” He compares it to previous sponsorships between football clubs and questionable crypto companies.
Calladine warns:

“Fans may be pushed into buying tokens that could become worthless overnight.”
Critics fear that the sponsorship gives ZKP direct access to Barcelona’s massive global fanbase through the club’s digital channels, enabling targeted promotion of these risky tokens.

Suspicious Connections: Andrew Tate, Offshore Entities and Deleted Documents
The controversy escalated after influencer Andrew Tate posted a video encouraging the use of “zero-knowledge systems” to hide crypto holdings from tax authorities. Tate did not mention ZKP by name, but the startup shared a version of the video with its own logo on Telegram.
Furthermore, ZKP’s official X account follows only three profiles:

🔹 Andrew Tate

🔹 FC Barcelona

🔹 Bitcoin
Other concerns appeared when ZKP’s Terms of Service listed the company’s legal name as Braxova Ltd, a Samoan entity housed in a consulting office located in a two-storey building in the capital, Apia.

This reference has now mysteriously disappeared.

Barcelona Responds: “We Have No Connection to ZKP Tokens”
Barcelona finally issued a statement attempting to distance itself from the startup’s token sale. According to the club:
🔹 FC Barcelona is not involved in selling ZKP tokens,

🔹 assumes no responsibility for the token’s value,

🔹 does not use any technology related to the token.
However, critics argue that such distancing is unrealistic. Once a company becomes an official partner, the line between sponsorship and promotion becomes blurred — especially if the partner’s core business revolves around selling tokens.
Xavier Vilajoana, former board member and now presidential candidate, called the deal a “sign of desperation” and demanded disclosure of all due diligence documents.

According to him, it is unacceptable for such a large club to partner with an organization surrounded by so many red flags.

Barcelona’s Financial Reality: Debt, Asset Sales and Failed Digital Ventures
This controversial sponsorship arrives at a time when Barcelona is still struggling with the fallout from disastrous transfer decisions made between 2017–2019.

In recent years, the club has:
🔹 repeatedly violated La Liga’s financial regulations

🔹 been forced to sell key players to meet salary caps

🔹 mortgaged major assets, including future TV rights

🔹 accumulated 469 million EUR in net debt

🔹 plus another 900 million EUR tied to the Camp Nou reconstruction
Digital ventures have also been a disappointment.

In 2023, Barcelona had to write off 141 million EUR after investors failed to pay for their stake in Barca Vision, the club’s NFT/metaverse project.

Conclusion
Barcelona’s decision to partner with ZKP comes at a moment of deep financial strain — but critics fear the club may be risking its reputation and the financial wellbeing of its supporters.

According to them, fans could ultimately be the ones who pay the price for this high-risk sponsorship.

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