Bitcoin (BTC) achieved another adoption goal. Bulgaria’s oldest football club, Botev Plovdiv FC, has adopted Bitcoin and Lightning Network payments and joined the decentralized protocol Nostr.
Starting today, fans can make peer-to-peer payments using Bitcoin at Botev Plovdiv FC’s fan shop and in the stands during top-flight Bulgarian Parva League matches. The club also plans to expand Bitcoin payment options for ticketing and its online store.
Anton Zingarevich, chairman of the 111-year-old football club, expressed enthusiasm for the move and highlighted the potential of the Lightning Network. He said in a press release:
“We anticipate that Bitcoin payments will be as ubiquitous in our daily lives as the web. This integration not only aligns with our vision, but also provides unparalleled convenience to our fans and stakeholders.”
The initiative is made possible through a partnership with BTCPay Server, a Bitcoin payment processor known for its open source architecture, secure infrastructure and low merchant fees. Payment hardware is handled by CryptoDesk.bg in partnership with Bitcoinize.com, which provides point-of-sale equipment.
Nicolas Dorier, founder of BTCPay Server, emphasized the importance of local adoption of Bitcoin and expressed his commitment to supporting transformative efforts such as Plovdiv.
Botev Plovdiv FC Bitcoin Director George Manolov explains “Bitcoin offers a wide range of technological, social and financial opportunities.”
“At Botev, we are excited to bring these innovations to the sporting landscape, harnessing their transformative energy to lift our club to unprecedented heights. As Bulgaria’s oldest football club, look forward to our groundbreaking products and initiatives.”
In addition to embracing Bitcoin, Botev Plovdiv FC has also revamped its online presence. The club’s official website has been updated, English social media channels have been brought up to speed and the club has created an account on Nostr – a decentralized protocol that provides censorship-resistant social media.
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The move to adopt Bitcoin and decentralized technology is similar to that of England’s Royal Bedford Football Club, which was the first football club in the world to adopt Bitcoin. Royal Bedford FC Chairman Peter McCormack shared his thoughts on the Bulgarian news:
“It would be really cool to see more football clubs adopting Bitcoin cheat codes. Not only will this bring more success to their clubs, but it will also expand the network of Bitcoin awareness.”
McCormack, who has been integrating Bitcoin at Royal Bedford since 2021, also spoke to Plovdiv before the city adopted Bitcoin. McCormack believes that Bitcoin’s unique properties can serve as a lifetime cheat code. He will be hosting a conference called Cheat Code in spring 2024 in Bedford.
McCormack told Cointelegraph, “There is widespread financial irresponsibility in football, so clubs that adopt low time preference Bitcoin standards as part of their strategy are building a strong foundation for their clubs.”
“I expect we will continue to see cheat codes adopted by not only other football clubs but all types of sports teams.”
Meanwhile, fans attending Plovdiv’s home match against League Two Lokomotiv Plovdiv will be able to pay using Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. The team made the announcement on Bitcoin White Paper Day to commemorate the day and highlight support for Bitcoin.
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