FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, is planning to migrate its FIFA Collect NFT collectibles platform to its own Avalanche Layer-1 blockchain.
FIFA Collect, which allows users to purchase and trade NFT-based soccer highlights, was previously launched on Algorand and also issued some collectibles on the Ethereum scaling network Polygon.
In April, the platform said it would leave Algorand and migrate assets to a new FIFA-centric blockchain, which is now confirmed to be powered by Avalanche.
“This move enhances our ability to deliver unique digital collectibles and immersive fan experiences, powered by the speed, scalability, and EVM compatibility. That means seamless integration with popular wallets, easier access, and a future-proof foundation for growth,” Francesco Abbate, CEO of Modex and FIFA Collect, said in a statement.
“We’re proud to help lay the groundwork for a new era of digital football, and this technology aligned best with the long-term vision and the technical requirements needed to support the continued growth of our digital ecosystem.”
The decision to migrate from Algorand was made by analyzing factors like performance, scalability, and customizability, according to Abbate.
“FIFA is a world-renowned brand and league. Avalanche gives it the infrastructure and scale to leverage their global audience, fan base, and business ambitions on their terms and to expand with assets, applications, and use cases as they grow,” Ava Labs Chief Business Officer John Nahas told Decrypt.
Now with FIFA’s digital soccer collectibles platform migrating to its own chain, Nahas said the industry should consider it a step towards broader adoption of blockchain.
“I’m excited, I’m sure the Avalanche community will be thrilled, and the broader industry should see the largest sports league in the world expanding on-chain, with their own chain, as a step towards real world adoption of this technology that can bring about new assets, applications, and use cases,” Nahas added.
The migration of FIFA Collect is the first of FIFA’s plans for its new blockchain, but future business cases are planned, according to a statement, though no further details were shared.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair and Andrew Hayward
