- The FCA warns Premier League clubs about money laundering risks from crypto sponsorships.
- Fans risk losing all money by using services from unregistered firms, according to the regulator.
- Clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea have partnerships with unauthorised crypto companies.
- The FCA issued a checklist for clubs to verify their sponsors’ regulatory status.
- In the last season, 13 Premier League teams had sponsorships with crypto firms.
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today warned top-flight football clubs that their partnerships with unregistered crypto firms could expose them to money laundering violations. This move directly addresses the Premier League’s growing trend of crypto sponsorships for the 2025/26 season.
The regulator claimed that these unauthorised firms may be breaking UK law by providing services without approval. Consequently, supporters using these platforms could lose all their money with no legal protection.
Among the clubs highlighted is Manchester City, which is partnered with Socios, OKX, and Axi. Meanwhile, Chelsea is partnered with crypto exchange BingX, and Newcastle United works with VT Markets, a firm on the FCA’s warning list.
The FCA issued a letter asking clubs to perform five due diligence checks. These include confirming a firm’s authorisation status and checking the FCA’s official warning lists for unauthorised entities.
It warned fans that prominent branding offers no safety if the sponsoring firm isn’t regulated. “If the sponsoring firm provides financial services and is not on the FCA Firm Checker, it is not regulated, and you will likely have no protection if things go wrong,” the FCA stated.
During the 2025/2026 Premier League season, 13 teams repped sponsors from 13 different crypto firms. In the prior season, 14 teams had entered partnerships with 15 different firms.
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