A new crypto partnership intended to stabilize FC Barcelona’s finances has become a public headache in just a few 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 crypto protocol partner.”
But on November 26, the club moved to distance itself from a digital token launched by the sponsor, insisting it had “no connection at all” to the asset.
Controversy has erupted in Barcelona over the past 24-48 hours, as fans and observers questioned who controls ZKP and why the club approved the arrangement.
Global partnership with @ZKPofficialnew official Blockchain technology partner of FC Barcelona. #BarçaxZKP
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 14, 2025
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Has Barcelona officially denied any connection to the ZKP token?
Barcelona said the deal did not involve any symbolic activity and added it would provide updates once it had “conclusive information.”
The partnership was announced on November 14 for a duration of three years until 2028 and was described as a data privacy and security project rather than a token or fan-coin deal.
Shortly after, ZKP began promoting a token sale, leading to claims online that the club was indirectly endorsing an untested offer.
In response, Barcelona issued a late night advisory statement on November 26, making three clear points: it has no connection to ZKP’s token, takes 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 mounted from football watchdogs and Barcelona’s own circle.
Martin Calladine, who has written about crypto in football, said the lack of clarity around ZKP was “deeply concerning” and warned fans could be pushed into tokens that might be worth nothing.
Former Barcelona manager Xavier Vilajoana also asked the club to explain how they initially looked at the deal.
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What does Barcelona mean by promising “transparency”?
ZKP describes itself as a decentralized and privacy-focused project. But key details remain unclear.
Reports from last day show the company is registered in Samoa and had previously listed “Braxova Ltd” in its terms before quietly removing the reference.
The company also claimed significant financial backing and quickly embarked on a token sale, adding to doubts about who is really in charge and who is responsible.
Barcelona’s response marks its clearest attempt yet to protect its name while keeping the sponsorship deal in place.
The club’s statement does not go so far as to speak of suspension or cancellation. Instead, he promises “transparency” and says more information will follow.
This position highlights a delicate reality for Barcelona. The club is still heavily in debt. Recent reports indicate that its net liabilities exceed hundreds of millions of euros, in addition to significant loans related to the stadium reconstruction. This context explains why new business revenues are so important.
The row also evokes mixed memories of Barca’s cryptocurrency past. In 2021, the club withdrew from an NFT deal with Ownix after the arrest of a person associated with the project. The club said he acted to protect his reputation.
A year later, FC Barcelona signed a separate three-season partnership with the WhiteBIT exchange, until June 2025.
The deal was proposed as part of a broader push for digital businesses. Together, these episodes illustrate the appeal of new sponsors and the risks associated with partnering with young or unproven entities.
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The article Barcelona Crypto Nightmare: How a Big Sponsorship Became a Big Liability appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
