Bologna FC 1909, seven times winner of the Italian Scudetto, in partnership with Chiliz, the leading blockchain providers for the sports and entertainment industry, have officially announced that they will launch the $BFC Fan Token on the fan engagement app Socios.com.

Fan Tokens are collectible digital assets, minted on the Chiliz blockchain, that provide owners with access to voting rights in polls, VIP rewards, exclusive promotions, AR-enabled features, chat forums, games and competitions on Socios.com.

The $BFC Fan Token will grant I Rossoblu fans worldwide unprecedented access to the club. Engagement opportunities for $BFC Fan Token holders will include the chance to have a say and a vote on a number of initiatives by taking part in interactive polls that will run on the Socios.com app.

In addition, fans will be able to put their skills to the test against other fans from around the world in games, competitions and quizzes, competing in global leaderboards and earning real-life and digital club-related accolades, benefits and experiences along the way. Fans can also look forward to accessing exclusive content and experiencing Socios.com’s geo-location, augmented reality feature ‘Token Hunt’.

Founded in 1909, Bologna FC are one of the founding members of the Italian Serie A, which they’ve topped seven times with another seven running-up finishes. Among other titles, I Rossoblu have also conquered the Coppa Italia seven times and the UEFA Intertoto Cup once.

In 2014 Bologna FC was purchased by Canadian businessman Joey Saputo, owner of MLS’ Montreal FC, who has been chairman of the club ever since. Under the new ownership, Bologna FC has consolidated its position in Serie A.

Details on when the $BFC Fan Token will launch, as well as the price and supply will be revealed shortly.

With over 1.2 million users worldwide, Socios.com is a direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform that uses blockchain technology to provide the world’s leading sporting organisations with the tools to engage with and monetize their global fanbases.

More than 90 major sporting organizations have partnered with Socios.com, including FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, AC Milan, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Arsenal and the Argentina and Portugal national football teams, as well as a number of leading teams from F1, esports and cricket. Bologna FC will become the fifth Serie A club to launch it’s Fan Token on Socios.com.

Created by Chilliz, the leading blockchain provider for the global sports and entertainment industry, Socios.com has major expansion plans and is targeting many more Fan Token launches throughout the world. The company has multiple office locations around the globe. It has recently opened new regional headquarters in Madrid, Istanbul, São Paulo and Buenos Aires, and will soon be inaugurating its first US headquarters.

Christoph Winterling, Commercial and Marketing Director of Bologna FC said: “We are very proud to announce this partnership with Socios.com.This agreement confirms the growth and appeal of the Bologna brand globally and our will to continue expanding. As a Club, we are always very attentive and proactive towards new technologies and innovation.

“Together with Socios.com we intend to offer new opportunities to our fan base around the world to interact in an innovative and creative way with our team’’.

Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz and Socios.com, said: “We are delighted to welcome Bologna FC, a club with rich sporting tradition and one of the founding members of Serie A, to our growing roster of partners. We look forward to working together to create lots of new opportunities for their local and global fanbase.

“I encourage all Bologna FC fans to keep an eye on the club and Socios.com’s social media channels so they don’t miss the opportunity to join our global digital community of sports fans who, through Fan Tokens and the Socios.com app, are discovering the perks of being more than fans.

“Bologna FC is our fifth Serie A partner and we will be adding many more in this and other top competitions worldwide in the coming months as we consolidate Socios.com as the leading Fan Engagement platform for the world’s biggest sporting organisations”.