One of the most significant advantages of technologies like generative AI (GenAI) and blockchain is the power of democratisation. Technologies restricted to research labs and in the hands of techies have now reached the masses.
This drive to bring access through technology led Dima Saksonov to start Blockchain Sports. Blockchain Sports was born from a vision to transform the sports industry through innovative technology. An IT professional Sakasonov was already interested in crypto and blockchain.
Blockchain Sports Ecosystem aims to provide equal career opportunities for talented young athletes worldwide. It is tough for underprivileged kids to make it in professional sports since sometimes their families cannot afford basic equipment.
Blockchain Sports Ecosystem intends to foster a transformation in the industry. The company uses innovative technologies, such as blockchain, IoT sensors, AI, and Computer Vision, to create new market opportunities and empower the public to participate in these exciting developments.
Blockchain Sports Football is backed by legendary football players, such as Romario, Zico, Marco Materazzi, Kevin Kuranyi, and others.
The company has partnered with – Kima Network, LogX, daGama, FoxWallet, Talisman, Aethir, Cookie3, and others.
The solutions developed by the ecosystem can benefit all parties involved – athletes, fans, and sports organisations.
“By integrating blockchain, IoT sensors, AI, and Computer Vision, I aim to democratise access to sports careers and empower athletes, fans, and sports organisations. This platform is designed to create new market opportunities and ensure that talented individuals, regardless of their background, have the chance to succeed,” added Saksonov.
Since the beginning of 2023, around a thousand people in the Blockchain Sports Ecosystem have worked to build the first blockchain network for sports data management, fan engagement, and dApp deployment.
In June 2024, they launched the initial testnet stage of the first sports-specific blockchain platform – Atleta Network. More than 120,000 Web3 enthusiasts made 250,000 transactions in the first days.
This was the first step in creating the credibly neutral, censorship-resistant environment that unlocks radical new economic paradigms and applications to augment the relationships between users and athletes.
Later in 2024, the Atleta team plans to launch the network’s mainnet and conduct the ATLA coin token generation event (TGE).
But what are the uses of blockchain in sports? Data management gets a significant boost. Player performance data, medical records, and scouting reports can be stored securely on a blockchain, giving teams a tamper-proof history and streamlining data sharing between organisations.
“Blockchain-based platforms connect athletes directly with fans. This allows them to offer exclusive content or experiences in exchange for fan tokens, creating a new revenue stream. Athletes can also better manage their careers. They can securely control their data and track their performance metrics on a blockchain,” explained Saksonov.
For fans, fan tokens can grant access to exclusive content and voting rights on team decisions. Finally, blockchain ensures the authenticity of digital collectables and eliminates the risk of fraud.
Besides, Blockchain Sports Ecosystem develops technical solutions like:
- Atleta Network is the technological heart of the ecosystem.It is a decentralised L1 blockchain platform with data storage that makes the sports industry more secure, efficient, and open. It provides transparency of interactions between sports organisations and users, allowing additional financial support. Sports organisations can use it to develop smart contracts and sports-related decentralised applications, issue tokens, and enhance financial operations with high transparency. Users can engage with their favourite sports teams via smart contracts by directly supporting players.
- Tempo de futebol is a scouting system developed explicitly to select young athletes for the Blockchain Sports Football Academy through the scouting system. Blockchain Sports has a team of professional scouts led by Matula Mindaugas, a licensed FIFA agent who travels across Brazil and audits young football talents.
- Hawk7 is a crowdfunding fund with an internal innovative platform whose mission is to connect promising projects with inspired investors.
- Blockchain Sports XR is the ecosystem’s laboratory, which will be used to develop and test the best VR equipment.
“While traditional blockchains can struggle during high-demand events, we’re building a future-proof platform, Atleta Network. We’re not relying on universal solutions. Our engineers are crafting a custom blockchain architecture optimised for all sports applications,” explained Saksonov.
The company has planned to open Blockchain Sports Football Academies in other countries.
