Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1117384
16.05.19 TRENDSETTERS LIAM CARTER HOUSED in the new 2,000 sqm Block- chain campus in Gzira, Socios is an avant-garde Blockchain-based venture set to revolutionise the role of football fans worldwide. Speaking to BusinessToday, Alexandre Dreyfus CEO of Chiliz and Socios.com elaborated on the inner workings of the app. "Socios.com is a new app dedicated to football fans, where you acquire voting rights to infl uence the clubs you love." e parent company, Chiliz, has al- ready managed to strike partnership deals with top-fl ight football clubs such as Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and West Ham United, with another big football club set to expected in the com- ing months. "We are off ering football clubs a solu- tion to bring fans closer to the club ir- relevant of your location," Dreyfus said. Asked as to how voting rights would be acquired and subsequently spent, the CEO pointed out that users of Socios will earn utility tokens under the virtual native currency of the platform, Chiliz or $CHZ. "Football clubs that join socios. com generate a supply of fan to- kens which are blockchain-se- cured digital assets," he said. Fan tokens earn users the right to vote on club matters and the more tokens you own the more infl uence you have." Dreyfus explained that these fan to- kens can be later spent on club-run polls such as those asking the fans about next year's jersey colour or which mar- quee signing they should secure next. Quizzed on how users can obtain these fan tokens, he said that this will be announced at a later date, possibly in the summer months. Dreyfus said he moved the company to Malta because the island provided a solid foundation for the blockchain industry by being one of the fi rst coun- tries globally to provide legislation for this emerging technology. Last years' hype about Malta becom- ing 'the blockchain island' also helped attract a huge talent pool to the island, he said. Meet the Blockchain company set to revolutionise the role of the 12th man e role of football fans worldwide is set to change with the onset of a Blockchain-based app that will bring supporters closer than they've ever been to big clubs