Chiliz’s Socios Europe Services becomes first SportFi to secure a MiCA license

Chiliz has taken a decisive step in its long-term strategy to build a regulated ecosystem for sports and blockchain.

Its subsidiary, Socios Europe Services Limited (SES), has secured a Crypto-Asset Service Provider from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, becoming the first sports-focused blockchain platform to operate under MiCA and marking a major turning point for the fast-emerging SportFi sector.

Notably, the authorisation applies across all 27 EU member states, giving Socios.com, Chiliz’s fan engagement and tokenisation platform, a fully regulated foundation to expand its operations.

A breakthrough for SportFi

The license allows SES to provide regulated services that include the custody and administration of crypto assets, the exchange of crypto assets for funds, the placement of crypto assets, and transfer services on behalf of clients.

These areas form the core of what MiCA governs, providing greater protection and transparency for users who purchase or trade fan tokens on Socios.com.

Other aspects of the Socios.com experience, such as engagement polls, loyalty programs, and third-party decentralised applications, remain outside MiCA’s scope.

However, these features continue to play an important role in the overall offering and will complement the regulated services now coming under the EU’s legal framework.

By securing this license, Chiliz has placed itself at the forefront of SportFi, a growing sector that blends sports with blockchain finance.

More than 400 million fans across Europe can now access a regulated environment for acquiring and trading official fan tokens, giving them stronger legal safeguards and clearer rules.

A compliant future for CHZ and fan tokens

Alongside the MiCA authorisation, Chiliz has published a comprehensive MiCA-compliant white paper for its CHZ token.

The document was registered in accordance with European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) guidelines, ensuring that investors and partners across the continent have transparent access to detailed information about the token.

The company has also begun the process of registering individual fan token white papers with ESMA through the MFSA.

This step underscores Chiliz’s commitment to extending transparency beyond its core currency and into the tokens that underpin fan engagement across dozens of sports organisations.

In addition, from October 1, 2025, Socios.com’s operations will formally transition to Socios Europe Services Limited and users will benefit from new complaint-handling procedures and updated legal documentation, which will be accessible through a dedicated Legal Hub on the platform’s website.

These changes signal a shift to a more robust, consumer-focused framework designed to meet the standards of MiCA.

A pivotal moment for fans and partners

The combination of MiCA licensing and a compliant CHZ white paper gives Chiliz and its Socios platform a unique position in the industry.

It not only reassures fans that their interactions with fan tokens take place in a protected environment but also provides sports organisations with confidence that the ecosystem is built on a sustainable and lawful foundation.

As the SportFi landscape matures, this regulatory breakthrough could accelerate growth and adoption across Europe.

In achieving this dual milestone, Chiliz has done more than secure a license. It has charted a course for how sports and blockchain can evolve together under regulation, setting the stage for the next phase of growth in SportFi.

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