Andrés Iniesta, former FC Barcelona veteran and current midfielder for Japan’s Vissel Kobe, promoted crypto exchange Binance via Twitter, which prompted a securities market regulator to write a cautionary reply tweet against crypto.
Fast facts
- Iniesta wrote on Twitter Wednesday, saying: “I’m learning how to get started with crypto with Binance,” also posting pictures of him using the crypto trading platform on his mobile and laptop. The soccer player’s tweet garnered over 1,000 retweets while the same post drew more than 340,000 likes on Instagram. However, it remains unclear whether Iniesta’s tweet was paid for by Binance.
- A few hours later, the National Securities Market Commission of Spain replied to Iniesta’s tweet, alerting Iniesta and readers that “cryptoassets, being unregulated products, carry some significant risks.” The authority urged the soccer star to inform himself thoroughly about cryptocurrencies before making investments or recommending others to do so.
- Iniesta, along with former FC Barcelona players Carles Puyol and Iván de la Peña, has previously shown interest in blockchain technology, by co-founding Olyseum, a blockchain-based social platform for sports fans in 2016.
- Last month, blockchain technology developer Chiliz launched NFTs with AC Milan commemorating the Italian soccer club’s game with AS Roma. Chiliz has previously partnered with major teams such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain to issue fan cryptocurrencies. Owners of the fan tokens are given the privilege to participate in fan-led decisions.
- China’s NASDAQ-listed internet company The9 Limited signed an exclusive license agreement with South Korean soccer star and forward for Tottenham Hotspur Son Heung-min, to release an NFT collection. The collection will include video, animation and digital artworks illustrating Son’s career highlights.