Blockchain
Manchester City Launches $CITY Fan Token
Manchester City Football Club has launched $CITY Fan Token in partnership with Socios.com.
Socios.com is a fan engagement and rewards mobile app built on the Chiliz blockchain. Manchester City fans across the world will be able to use $CITY Fan Tokens to access VIP rewards, Club promotions, games, AR-enabled features and voting rights in certain binding and non-binding Club polls on Socios.com.
The launch of the $CITY Fan Token also creates a new layer of digital engagement for Manchester City’s global fanbase, bringing them even closer to the club they love. The great news for City fans is that all existing registered Cityzens will be eligible to receive a free $CITY Fan Token.
The Fan Token is available to purchase via the Socios.com app. Registered Cityzens will receive an offer to claim their free token through a voucher code in due course.
Stephan Cieplik, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships at City Football Group, said: “We are excited to launch the new Manchester City Fan Token, which will provide another opportunity for our fans all over the world to get even closer to the Club they love. Fans will have access to fantastic competitions and VIP experiences and be able to vote on Club initiatives.
“Every existing registered Cityzen will also be eligible for a free token so they can access the full range of benefits and rewards.
“We recognise the significant interest in blockchain and the opportunity it provides us to engage further our global fanbase and we are confident that the Manchester City Fan Token will prove a popular addition to our digital line-up. We’ve been extremely impressed with how Socios.com have led the way in this space with other European clubs, and we are confident that we have the right platform to succeed and grow together.”
Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz and Socios.com, said: “Manchester City are leading the race for this season’s title, but they’ve already been honoured as the most innovative sports team in the world this year.
“The Club have proven they are ahead of the pack in embracing innovation and will enhance that status further through the $CITY Fan Token.
“Socios.com and $CITY Fan Tokens will be hugely complementary to City’s global approach, providing fans around the world with unprecedented engagement opportunities, as well as unique digital, and — once restrictions are lifted — real-life rewards and experiences.”
Powered by WPeMatico
$SNACK token
Crypto Snack Unveils Five-Pillar Ecosystem Spanning Sports, RWA Tokenisation, iGaming, Consumer Rewards and Payments
Crypto Snack, the blockchain-based crypto infrastructure company behind the $SNACK token, has announced the full scope of its multi-vertical ecosystem — spanning a Premier League football partnership, institutional-grade real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation, licensed iGaming, a live consumer rewards platform and an integrated crypto wallet and payments app.
The announcement marks a strategic repositioning for the project, which has spent the past 18 months building infrastructure, securing partnerships and obtaining licences ahead of a coordinated 2026 launch across all five verticals.
“Most crypto projects pick one lane. We’ve built five — and every single one generates real revenue for the token. This isn’t a roadmap built on promises. The partnerships are signed, the licences are secured, and the technology is built. 2026 is about execution,” Stuart Morrison, CEO and Founder of Crypto Snack.
Premier League Partnership
Crypto Snack has secured a partnership with an English Premier League football club, making it the first project to process cryptocurrency payments for a PL club. The integration covers matchday ticket purchases, merchandise sales, LED stadium advertising, VIP hospitality packages, and Ticketmaster-integrated ticketing — with $SNACK enabled as a direct payment method.
The club name remains under embargo ahead of a formal joint announcement in the coming weeks.
Real-World Asset Tokenisation
Crypto Snack facilitated and represents the Alkemya Metacore Security Token Offering (STO), which is listing on a regulated tokenised securities exchange. The STO comprises 800 million tokens, with Crypto Snack holding a 3% allocation. Proceeds are received in USDT, with remaining tokens generating ongoing cash distributions.
The company is actively tokenising UK real estate, commodities, and securities at institutional scale, with projects valued at up to $1.5 billion.
Licensed iGaming
Snack Casino and Snack Bet — a fully licensed online casino and sportsbook — are scheduled to launch in 2026, operated by a strategic iGaming partner under a licensed agreement to use the Crypto Snack brand. All bonuses, rewards and referral incentives will be distributed exclusively in $SNACK tokens, creating a recurring demand mechanism for the token independent of speculative trading.
Live Consumer Rewards
Snack Rewards is already live in the US through a partnership with Affina Loyalty, offering cashback paid in $SNACK tokens across more than 2000 brands including Apple, Nike, IKEA and Uber. The merchant-funded model means brands fund the cashback directly, with Crypto Snack earning a 1% commission on every transaction. UK and European expansion is scheduled for Q3 2026.
Snack App and Wallet
The Snack App will serve as the central gateway to the entire ecosystem, featuring a built-in crypto wallet with virtual debit cards, buy/sell/trade functionality and unified access to all rewards and loyalty programmes. The app is designed for mainstream adoption, removing the technical barriers that typically prevent non-crypto users from entering the space.
The post Crypto Snack Unveils Five-Pillar Ecosystem Spanning Sports, RWA Tokenisation, iGaming, Consumer Rewards and Payments appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blockchain
RPM APPOINTS WEB3 EXPERT STEVE WHYMAN TO LEAD ON BLOCKCHAIN STRATEGY
RPM, the specialist in retail and online betting and gaming, has announced that it has bolstered its digital markets capabilities with the appointment of Steve Whyman as Director of Web3 & Crypto.
Whyman joins RPM with a mandate to shape the credible adoption of blockchain technology within the global gaming industry, and will assist partners with a unique, high-level consultancy service that helps deliver faster routes to market using decentralised offerings and tokens.
This appointment internalises Steve Whyman’s institutional pedigree, having spent 25 years in senior trading and leadership roles with industry giants including Amundi, Aviva, and BlackRock, while he most recently served as Head of Debt Capital Markets at Fidelity International where he oversaw the $90bn fixed income primary markets portfolio and led the tokenisation of the firm’s money market fund.
With the added, potent combination of Web3 experience as founder and CEO at Fulminata Solutions, a digital capital markets boutique working with Layer-1 blockchains and prominent stablecoins, Whyman is well-positioned to translate digital finance innovations into practical gaming applications for RPM partners.
During his time at Fulminata Solutions, Whyman has established himself as a thought leader in the Web3 space with specific expertise in the Solana ecosystem. He currently serves as a Strategic Advisor to KEEL.FI, the largest allocator on Solana, and his new role will see this knowhow utilised to provide the gaming sector with a more seamless path to new business models, improved transparency, and new sustainable growth opportunities.
Richard Thorp, Founder at RPM, said: “Appointing Steve is a landmark moment for us as we take a major step forward in delivering on Web3’s promise. His background is exceptional. Blending the rigour of institutional finance and a first-rate, hands-on understanding of decentralised markets, we’re hugely confident that our partners will be able to reap the benefits of his expertise in bridging to new product and market opportunities in the space.”
Steve Whyman, RPM’s new Director of Web3 and Crypto, added: “I’m thrilled to join RPM at a pivotal time as the gaming industry moves beyond speculative Web3 trends towards implementing genuine utility. My focus will be on delivering major new value opportunities to clients in digital finance through consulting on various product improvements, such as instant settlement opportunities, smoother payment rails or executing on innovative, tokenised growth models.
“By fostering partnerships between RPM, our clients, and the leading, high-performance Layer-1 blockchains, we have a massive opportunity to build igaming-led systems that improve transparency, operational efficiency, and, critically, improve the bottom line, and working alongside Rich and the team, we’re in a strong position to genuinely lead Web3 gaming innovation from the front.”
The post RPM APPOINTS WEB3 EXPERT STEVE WHYMAN TO LEAD ON BLOCKCHAIN STRATEGY appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blockchain
GR8 Tech Launches Crypto Turnkey: High-Value iGaming Platform for Global Expansion
GR8 Tech has officially unveiled its Crypto Turnkey solution, a comprehensive platform designed to give iGaming operators a modern, multi-wallet infrastructure for global expansion. By integrating native multi-currency support from day one, the solution eliminates the need for third-party crypto vendors and complex technical integrations.
According to Denys Parkhomenko, CPO at GR8 Tech, the shift toward crypto is no longer optional for operators looking to dominate.
“Industry data shows crypto players deposit 35-50% more and bet with 40-60% higher frequency than traditional players,” says Parkhomenko. “The operators winning their markets are the ones acting on that data now, not waiting. We built Crypto Turnkey to make that move simple.”
Eliminating Payment Provider Bottlenecks
One of the most significant hurdles for modern iGaming businesses is the dependency on traditional payment providers. Regulatory hurdles or provider outages can delay launches or halt active businesses.
Crypto Turnkey removes these bottlenecks, allowing for:
-
Faster Market Entry: Go live quickly without waiting for lengthy traditional payment approvals.
-
Operational Stability: Payment uptime is controlled by the operator, ensuring a 24/7 uninterrupted revenue flow.
-
Full Compliance: The platform supports over 15 popular cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT) while maintaining strict KYC and responsible gambling standards through existing GR8 Tech modules.
Designed for the VIP Experience
High-stakes players are the lifeblood of the industry. In 2025, VIP players accounted for 47% of total turnover across GR8 Tech’s verticals. These users increasingly demand the privacy, speed, and high transaction limits that only blockchain can provide.
The Crypto Turnkey multi-wallet system provides the flexibility these premium segments expect:
-
Single Account, Multiple Currencies: Players can hold and switch between currencies instantly.
-
No Conversion Friction: Deposit and withdraw in crypto without losing value to unnecessary exchange fees.
-
Real-time Calculations: For games requiring fiat denominations, the system automatically handles balance segregation and exchange rate calculations.
Lower Fees and Zero Chargeback Risks
The economic advantages of the Crypto Turnkey solution are clear. While traditional fiat transactions typically cost between 2.5% and 5%, GR8 Tech’s solution slashes these costs to approximately 0.5%.
Furthermore, because blockchain transactions are irreversible, operators can say goodbye to chargeback fraud and the administrative nightmare of dispute management. Settlement times are also reduced from the standard 3-5 business days to just 10-30 minutes.
The Platform for Champions
When combined with the broader GR8 Tech ecosystem—including AI-driven personalization, advanced CRM tools, and geo-specific “Champion setups”—the Crypto Turnkey solution becomes a powerful engine for maximizing player lifetime value.
The solution is now available globally. New operators can deploy it as a complete turnkey package, while existing GR8 Tech clients can activate crypto capabilities without any additional technical integration.
Meet GR8 Tech at ICE 2026
Are you ready to unlock the potential of the “Platform for Champions” in crypto mode?
Book a meeting with the GR8 Tech team at ICE 2026 to discuss how we can accelerate your success in person at Booth 1C50 in Barcelona.
The post GR8 Tech Launches Crypto Turnkey: High-Value iGaming Platform for Global Expansion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Blueprint Gaming7 days agoBlueprint Gaming unleashes Frankenstein’s Fortune blending dynamic modifiers with multi-path bonus offering
-
Compliance Updates7 days agoMGA Publishes Results of Thematic Review on Self-exclusion Practices in Online Gaming Sector
-
Latest News5 days agoGGBET UA hosts Media Game – an open FC Dynamo Kyiv training session with journalists from sports publications
-
Amusnet7 days agoAmusnet Unveils Casino Engineering and Technology Milestones Achieved in 2025
-
Dan Brown7 days agoGames Global and Foxium return to the Colosseum in Rome Fight for Gold the Tiger’s Rage™
-
Bragg Gaming Group7 days agoBragg Gaming Group Partners with StarGames
-
Asia6 days agoBooks on Wheels: DigiPlus Foundation Brings Mobile Library to Boost Literacy Among Aurora’s Young Learners
-
3 Oaks Gaming7 days ago3 Oaks Gaming unleashes the power of the wild with 4 Wolf Drums: Hold and Win



