Securitize and Socios.com announced a strategic partnership on September 2, 2026, to create regulated tokenized equity offerings that represent minority ownership interests in professional sports teams. The products will be issued under the Socios Equity Token brand and remain subject to securities laws, league rules, club approvals and jurisdictional limits.

Socios.com, powered by the Chiliz Group, will manage relationships with teams, owners and fans while developing the engagement layer. Securitize will oversee securities issuance, investor onboarding, ownership-record administration, transfer controls and ongoing servicing through its regulated affiliates in the United States and Europe.

Distinct from Existing Fan Tokens

Socios Equity Tokens are structured as regulated securities tied to actual minority equity stakes. They differ from the Fan Tokens Socios.com has issued with more than 70 sports organizations, including leading soccer clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona and Juventus, as well as several national teams. Fan Tokens focus on engagement and utility features such as voting on club-related decisions. Equity Tokens, by contrast, are intended to confer financial interests governed by the terms of each approved offering.

The Chiliz Group introduced the Socios Equity Token category in late August 2026 as a separate product line designed to bring structured economic interests in professional teams on-chain. Specific ownership rights, voting provisions and other conditions will vary by transaction and applicable regulations.

Target Audiences and Market Opportunity

The partnership aims to serve two groups. Eligible fans could obtain a closer economic connection to the teams they support. Institutional and private-equity investors could gain exposure to professional sports franchises as an alternative asset class. Professional sports teams represent an estimated $500 billion in global value, yet ownership has remained predominantly private and minority stakes have been difficult to access or trade.

No participating teams have been named. Offering sizes, investor eligibility criteria, supported blockchain networks and other terms will be disclosed only after individual transactions receive the necessary approvals.

European Infrastructure and Regulatory Framework

The initiative is expected to become the first tokenization project launched through Securitize’s fully authorized European Trading and Settlement System under the European Union’s DLT Pilot Regime. Securitize received authorization from Spain’s National Securities Market Commission in November 2025, enabling regulated blockchain-based trading and settlement across all 27 EU member states. The European system is built on Avalanche and connects with Securitize’s existing U.S. infrastructure.

Under the DLT Pilot Regime the platform can support tokenized equities, bonds and other instruments while combining trading and settlement on a blockchain. The sports equity offerings would use this infrastructure if transactions proceed, although the specific networks for the tokens themselves have not been confirmed.

Alexandre Dreyfus, Founder and CEO of The Chiliz Group and Socios.com, stated that the partnership allows the company to explore the next stage of its work with teams by combining its sports network with the infrastructure required to bring regulated equity opportunities to eligible investors.

Securitize’s Broader Tokenization Platform

Securitize trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SECZ following a SPAC transaction earlier in 2026. The company reported approximately $5 billion in assets under management as of August 2026 and has tokenized products linked to major asset managers including BlackRock’s BUIDL fund, Apollo, Hamilton Lane and VanEck. It operates regulated digital-securities infrastructure in both the United States and the European Union.

The broader market for tokenized real-world assets has expanded significantly, with market capitalization approaching $40 billion according to industry data cited in connection with the announcement. Tokenized instruments now include government securities, private credit, investment funds and equities.

Additional details on participating clubs, precise investment terms and launch timelines will be provided only after regulatory and league clearances are obtained for specific offerings.