OKX, a prominent global cryptocurrency exchange, has forged a partnership with Manchester City to introduce special football jerseys that can be tokenized as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).
This initiative, dubbed “Unseen City Shirts,” offers Manchester City supporters, the reigning champions of English football, the chance to possess exclusive memorabilia and win enticing rewards.
Dubbed “The Roses and the Bees,” the inaugural NFT collectible was unveiled on April 22. Crafted by artist Christian Jeffery, this digital artwork pays homage to Manchester’s heritage by incorporating iconic symbols like the Lancashire Rose and the Manchester Worker Bee.
Through the OKX app, fans worldwide can mint these NFTs from April 22 to 25, each randomly assigned a rarity level—Classic, Rare, or Ultra Rare. Depending on the rarity, fans stand to win exclusive prizes, including limited-edition physical jerseys, match hospitality tickets, and unique play-on-pitch experiences.
Nuria Tarré, Manchester City’s Chief Marketing and Fan Experience Officer, underscored the club’s strategic focus on engaging tech-savvy audiences and embracing digital ownership, epitomized by initiatives like the NFT launch. She emphasized the significance of digital ownership in the Web3 era, revolutionizing the ownership landscape.
Tarré also highlighted Manchester City’s commitment to exploring Web3 technology’s potential through partnerships like OKX and other avenues. She cited the club’s venture into Roblox in late 2022 and described Web3 environments as dynamic and progressive, fostering innovation and co-creation.
OKX, aiming to position itself as the premier “crypto lifestyle brand,” has secured multi-million dollar sponsorship deals with esteemed sports franchises like McLaren’s Formula 1 team and the English Premier League giant, Manchester City.
Haider Rafique, OKX’s Chief Marketing Officer, expressed enthusiasm about engaging Manchester City’s global fanbase through the campaign. He stressed Web3 technology’s potential to enrich fan experiences and underscored the importance of building utility-based ecosystems, starting with NFTs tied to physical merchandise.
Established in 2017 and based in the Republic of Seychelles, OKX serves over 20 million clients across 180 international markets. The exchange facilitates trading for major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polkadot, and Cardano.