Cody McGrath 
England’s National League is in discussions regarding an official non-fungible token (NFT) partner which will take place soon
National League in talk with NFT partner
The National League of England is in talks with a non-fungible token (NFT) partner, with clubs scheduled to tweet about the token program twice a month, according to The Athletic.
The proposals, which have yet to be verified, were discussed during the organization’s annual dinner, which was held last week at Celtic Manor outside Newport, Wales.
NFTs have been mentioned as a possible new revenue stream for a league that is cash-strapped in comparison to the country’s professional divisions.
Clubs would be expected to post about the tokens on social media on a regular basis as part of the proposed agreement. If the discussion actually comes into place, it will not be the first time NFT and soccer have worked together.
Views of soccer and NFT partnership
The partnership deals between soccer and NFT have been viewed in different ways. Non-fungible tokens are a type of digital asset based on blockchain technology, which is used to power cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
To their supporters, they are a modern version of trading products such as stickers or apparel. This has been made possible by the emergence of fan tokens, which is one of the innovative ways for fans to be involved in sporting activities.
This is contrary to their detractors as they view this move as a way for the wealthy to benefit themselves at the expense of sports fans who are exposed to unregulated financial speculation.
Different football leagues and clubs have previously inked deals with Socios.com which have made the fan tokens a reality.
The National League, which is below the English Football League, is made up of the fifth and sixth tiers of English football, divided into north and south divisions.
National League recovers from epidemic
The National League has recovered well from the epidemic, with 2.5 million fans attending games throughout all three divisions in 2021-22. Wrexham, Stockport County, Notts County, Chesterfield, Southend United, and Grimsby Town were among six National League clubs with average attendances of over 5,000.
However, with central support from the Premier League significantly cut for clubs outside of the English Football League, the necessity to increase revenue streams persists (EFL).
The National League has a commercial agreement in place with Vanarama, the league’s major sponsor since 2014, that runs until the 2024-25 season.
When signed in March 2021, it was said to be worth £4 million, or £1 million every season.
The emergence of fan tokens
The use of bitcoin in sports is also divisive, with companies like Socios selling digital fan tokens and clubs like Chelsea and Roma wearing the insignia of cryptocurrency companies that few had heard of before they inked lucrative sponsorship deals.
In recent weeks, cryptocurrency and NFT markets have plummeted, and many NFT ventures sponsored by football stars such as Paul Pogba, Andrew Robertson, and John Terry have been criticized after their value plummeted after being presented with too much fanfare.