FC Barcelona Faces Backlash Over $22M Sponsorship Deal With 'Unknown' Samoan Crypto Firm ZKP

Introduction: A Controversial Partnership Raises Eyebrows

European soccer giant FC Barcelona has ignited significant criticism after announcing a $22 million, three-year global sponsorship agreement with Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP), a relatively unknown cryptocurrency firm based in Samoa. The deal, coming at a time when the club carries €469 million ($542 million) of debt, has been labeled by former board member Xavier Vilajoana as a sign of financial "desperation." The partnership has drawn scrutiny due to ZKP's recent establishment, limited online presence, and alleged associations with controversial figures, raising fundamental questions about due diligence in crypto-sports sponsorships.

The Deal and Immediate Criticism

FC Barcelona's partnership with Zero-Knowledge Proof represents one of the more substantial crypto sponsorship deals in European soccer, yet it has been met with immediate skepticism. Xavier Vilajoana, a former board member of the club, publicly voiced his concerns to the Financial Times, calling the decision "incredibly concerning" and pointing to multiple "red flags" in the company's background. His criticism highlights the tension between Barcelona's prestigious brand and its partnership with a firm that appears to have launched its social media channels and white paper only in early November 2025.

Vilajoana specifically noted that ZKP's X account had only 33 followers at the time of the official partnership announcement. This minimal social media footprint is unusual for a company committing $22 million to sponsor one of the world's most recognizable sports franchises. The timing is particularly sensitive given Barcelona's publicly disclosed financial struggles, with the club working to manage significant debt while maintaining competitive performance on the global stage.

Questionable Associations and Regulatory Environment

The controversy surrounding ZKP extends beyond its digital presence to include alleged connections with controversial influencer Andrew Tate. According to reports, Tate posted an endorsement of Zero-Knowledge Proof technology on his X page, which was subsequently shared by the company on its Telegram page with an additional ZKP logo. This association has raised further questions about the company's marketing strategies and brand alignment.

Compounding these concerns is ZKP's registration in Samoa, a jurisdiction that the European Union includes on its list of tax havens. The company states it is regulated under Samoan law, but details about its ownership structure, funding sources, and management team remain unclear from publicly available information. The Financial Times noted it was unable to find public information about some of the firm's management members, including Jeff Wilck, its head of blockchain.

Technical Expertise and Industry Skepticism

The choice of name "Zero-Knowledge Proof" itself has drawn scrutiny from technical experts in the cryptography space. Harry Halpin, CEO of blockchain-privacy firm Nym Technologies, expressed skepticism about any company that "appeared out of nowhere and claimed to provide privacy via zero-knowledge proofs." He emphasized the extreme specialization required to work with this technology, noting that "there are only about 50 programmers alive, I suspect, who can actually understand the math and code production-ready zero-knowledge proof systems."

Halpin further explained that most experts in this field already work at established companies like privacy-centric Ethereum layer-2 Aztec, blockchain protocol Anoma, privacy-focused layer-1 blockchain Aleo, and the Electric Coin Company, which is behind the Zcash privacy coin. He also clarified technical limitations, pointing out that zero-knowledge proofs alone don't necessarily provide complete anonymity automatically, as IP addresses may remain visible without additional privacy measures like mixnets.

FC Barcelona's Official Response and Disclaimers

In response to growing criticism, FC Barcelona issued an official statement attempting to distance itself from ZKP's cryptocurrency activities. The club explicitly stated it "has no connection whatsoever with the company's token," and emphasized that sponsorship discussions did not include conversations about "the existence or issuance of this token." The statement further clarified that "the club has no responsibility for, or involvement in, the issuance or management of this token, nor does it use the associated technology."

This defensive posture reflects the delicate balance sports organizations must strike when engaging with cryptocurrency partners. While seeking revenue opportunities, they must protect their brand from potential association with speculative or problematic crypto projects. Barcelona's statement suggests awareness of these risks but does little to address concerns about the due diligence process that led to the partnership approval.

ZKP's Unconventional Approach and Response

Zero-Knowledge Proof has responded to criticism with an unconventional defense posted on X: "No LinkedIn. No pitch deck. No press charm offensive. Just a new blockchain, deployed Proof Pods, and 100% self-funded. Maybe what's concerning trad media is that we skipped the PR game." This statement positions the company as rejecting traditional business development approaches in favor of a more direct technological focus.

The company is currently in the process of conducting its initial coin offering, though specific details about the token sale remain limited. The cryptographic technology referenced in its name has been possible since the early 1990s but has gained significant attention in recent years as blockchain applications have expanded. Despite this technological foundation, questions persist about ZKP's capacity to deliver on its promises given its recent establishment and limited public track record.

Broader Context: Crypto Sponsorships in European Soccer

The FC Barcelona-ZKP partnership emerges within a broader trend of cryptocurrency sponsorships becoming increasingly common in European soccer. According to Investigate Europe's analysis from earlier this month, over a third of teams in Europe's five largest leagues are partnered with cryptocurrency or trading firms this season, with the percentage rising to 70% in the UK's Premier League.

Trading platform eToro has signed deals with eight different clubs, while crypto exchanges Bitpanda and Kraken have secured four and three partnerships respectively with major European clubs. This pattern demonstrates the growing intersection between cryptocurrency companies seeking mainstream exposure and sports organizations pursuing new revenue streams.

However, this trend has encountered setbacks. In 2022, Bloomberg reported that Portugal's Sporting Lisbon and Italy's Spezia terminated their commercial relationships with Bitci.com, a Turkish-based crypto group, due to alleged non-payment. These incidents highlight the risks associated with partnerships in the volatile and sometimes unstable cryptocurrency sector.

Conclusion: Due Diligence and Brand Protection in Crypto Partnerships

The controversy surrounding FC Barcelona's $22 million deal with Zero-Knowledge Proof underscores critical considerations for sports organizations engaging with cryptocurrency partners. While crypto sponsorships offer substantial financial opportunities, they require enhanced due diligence processes to protect institutional reputation and fan trust. The combination of ZKP's recent establishment, limited public presence, questionable associations, and registration in a tax haven jurisdiction represents multiple risk factors that warrant careful evaluation.

For readers monitoring this space, attention should focus on how other major sports franchises approach similar partnerships moving forward. The broader lesson extends beyond Barcelona specifically to the entire ecosystem of sports-crypto collaborations: technological innovation must be balanced against traditional business safeguards. As cryptocurrency continues penetrating mainstream sports marketing, establishing robust vetting procedures will become increasingly essential for protecting both financial interests and brand integrity in this rapidly evolving sponsorship landscape.