Boston Celtics

Tokenizing professional sports players and franchises seems to be a competitive game among blockchain firms.

Socios, the blockchain-based platform responsible for tokenizing many popular sports franchises, has said the Boston Celtics basketball team will be joining its roster.

In a Wednesday announcement from the National Basketball Association, Socios said it will have a significant presence on the Celtics’ website. Though the platform did not specifically mention it would be tokenizing players for digital collectibles, it will be using Celtics’ logos for international marketing.

Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Socios and blockchain-based sports platform Chiliz, said this partnership with an NBA team could lead to “enhanced fan engagement for fans of the Celtics,” perhaps hinting basketball fans might see tokens for the team as the platform develops. The Celtics have been a major force in the NBA, having won 17 world championships, the most recent one in 2008.

Tokenizing professional sports players and franchises seems to be a competitive game among blockchain firms as companies continue to announce similar partnerships. 

NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils have already joined Socios. The platform has said it will launch fan tokens for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Formula 1 racing teams Aston Martin Cognizant and Alfa Romeo Racing on the Chiliz blockchain. However, Dapper Labs’ NBA Top Shot has the backing of prominent basketball players including Michael Jordan, Alex Caruso, and Kevin Durant.

Related: Socios partners with Turkish soccer club union to explore digital revenue models

Last week, the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers announced a sponsorship program with blockchain company StormX, which would reportedly have players wear the firm’s logo on their jerseys for the next five years.