SBI Chiliz Teams Up With Tokyo Verdy to Test Fan Token Model in Japan

SBI Chiliz is partnering with Japanese professional soccer club Tokyo Verdy to explore club tokenization and build a Web3 model focused on fan engagement.

SBI Chiliz, a joint venture between SBI Holdings and Chiliz (CHZ), said on June 16 that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Tokyo Verdy, a founding member of Japan's J.League, to jointly assess the feasibility of building a fan token-based ecosystem. The agreement marks one of the first attempts to test a blockchain-based fan engagement model in Japan's sports market.

Tokyo Verdy is a storied club with 25 major titles, including seven first-division league championships. Under the agreement, the two sides plan to develop practical Web3 use cases, including fan voting, digital collectibles, or NFTs, and participation-based reward structures.

Tokyo Verdy Chief Executive Officer Takaaki Nakamura said the club is exploring the future of digital fan experiences alongside the new season. He added that it will closely examine how Web3 technology and fan tokens can expand interaction between supporters and the club.

The companies also plan to run fan education programs and offline events to improve understanding of Web3. They aim to establish operating systems and compliance standards suited to Japan's strict regulatory environment, with a focus on building a stable and sustainable fan token model.

SBI Chiliz Director Takuya Sugiyama said the initiative is the company's first project in Japan, combining Chiliz's global experience with the SBI Group's Web3 capabilities. He said the effort would help accelerate the digital transformation of Japan's sports industry.

Chiliz Chief Executive Officer Alexandre Dreyfus said Japan is an important market for technology innovation and fan culture. The partnership with Tokyo Verdy, he said, will help build a responsible Web3 fan experience model based on education and real-world use cases.