After PSG crushed Inter 5-0 and won the Champions League title for the first time, the club established itself not only as a leader in European football but also as a flagship of the Web3 industry.
If on the field unconventional tactics were the key to success, then off the field it was bold experiments with technology. The Parisians were the first to start developing the blockchain direction in sports, partnering with the Chiliz platform behind fan tokens.
PSG became the first top club to partner with the Chiliz platform back in 2018. By 2020, the team launched its own token $PSG. This opened up access for fans to unique activities, giveaways, bonuses, and even voting. Later, the token appeared on major cryptocurrency exchanges.
But the loudest buzz about $PSG came in 2021 when the club signed Lionel Messi — and part of his 'signing bonus' was given in fan tokens. This was the first case in the world where a crypto asset became an official part of a deal with a player of that level.
In 2024, PSG strengthened its partnership with Chiliz and became the first sports team in the world to act as a Layer-1 validator in the Chiliz Chain network.
It's important to be first
This season PSG has raised the bar both on and off the field, remaining at the forefront of Web3 innovations in sports for several years. One of the latest steps was the creation of Concorde, a free digital pass that rewards loyal fans. It allows collecting rare digital drops and collectible NFTs, some of which will be issued on the Chiliz Chain.
This approach fully aligns with the club's philosophy, where the desire to be first is foundational. This was reminded by Par Helgossen, head of PSG Labs, during Paris Blockchain Week 2024:
"PSG loves to be first — it's in our DNA. Innovation is an important part of our game. We are looking for partners who are ready to move with us, because we cannot do everything ourselves. Web3 is not a separate direction, it is embedded in everything we do. To be timely, you need to arrive early. Learn, try, experiment."
Example for others
While other clubs are trying Web3 to varying degrees, PSG remains one of the few that is consistently and deeply integrating into this field. The club is not just interested in blockchain but is actively looking for ways to use technology for the benefit of the team and fans.
This summer they will open the doors to innovation: from July 11 to 13, the Parc des Princes stadium will host Hacking Paris, a hackathon with a prize pool of $150,000 from Chiliz Chain.
Hacking Paris
This will be the first major blockchain hackathon in history to take place right at a top club stadium. Another achievement for PSG and another precedent for Web3.
Developers will be invited to create solutions in several areas: new use cases for fan tokens, digital merchandise, decentralized governance, and fan dApp services.
Participation is free, and you can come either alone or with a team. The prize pool is $150,000.
