Chiliz Breaks New Ground With EU Licence And CHZ Transparency Drive
Chiliz has scored a European first, becoming the only sports-focused blockchain company so far to win authorisation under the EU’s new crypto rules.
Its subsidiary, Socios Europe Services Limited, has been granted a licence by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. This gives it the green light to provide regulated crypto-asset services across all 27 EU countries.
The move means fans across Europe will soon be able to securely buy and trade official Fan Tokens on Socios.com through a regulated platform — a step designed to boost confidence and consumer protection in the fast-growing SportFi sector.
Alongside the licence, Chiliz has also published a MiCA-compliant white paper for its CHZ token, meeting transparency standards set by the EU’s financial regulator ESMA. In crypto, a white paper is essentially a detailed public document that explains how a digital asset works, its risks, and the protections in place for investors — something like a rulebook and fact sheet combined. White papers for individual Fan Tokens will follow through the MFSA, ensuring all trading is fully aligned with MiCA rules.
From 1 October 2025, all crypto-asset services on Socios.com will shift under Socios Europe Services Limited. The platform will also introduce stronger consumer safeguards, including a complaints handling process and new legal documentation for users.
Chiliz CEO and founder Alex Dreyfus called the development “a pivotal moment” for the company and its community.
“Securing full MiCA authorisation positions us at the forefront of regulated Web3 innovation in sports and entertainment,” he said. “Together with our MiCA-compliant CHZ white paper, it delivers greater transparency and confidence to all ecosystem participants, and lays the foundations for the next phase of SportFi growth.”
The licence covers the custody and administration of crypto-assets, exchanges between crypto and fiat money, the placing of crypto-assets, and transfer services. Non-financial activities on Socios.com — such as fan polls, loyalty programmes, and access to third-party apps — remain outside the scope of MiCA.
Founded in Malta, Chiliz pioneered Fan Tokens and powers the Socios.com app, which partners with clubs including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Juventus. The group employs around 100 people in Malta, making it one of the island’s most prominent tech companies.
As part of the milestone, Chiliz has also published a fully MiCA-compliant white paper for its native CHZ token. Issued in line with guidelines from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the white paper provides greater transparency for users and trading partners, and marks the start of a wider process to register Fan Token white papers with ESMA via the MFSA.
The transition of all Socios.com crypto-asset services to SES will take place on 1 October 2025, supported by new consumer protections including a dedicated complaints handling procedure and an updated legal hub on the platform’s website.
“This milestone validates our long-term vision of building compliant, sustainable blockchain infrastructure that empowers fans and organisations within Europe and beyond,” said Alex Dreyfus, CEO and Founder of Chiliz. “Together with our MiCA-compliant CHZ white paper, it delivers greater transparency and confidence to all ecosystem participants. These regulatory milestones deliver the foundations for the next phase of SportFi growth.”
Chiliz, which pioneered Fan Tokens and powers Socios.com, has long pursued a proactive approach to regulation, with prior registrations in Spain, Italy and Lithuania. Today’s achievement positions the group at the forefront of regulated Web3 innovation in sports and entertainment, as it looks ahead to tokenising real-world assets (RWA) from the sports sector and expanding its SportFi ecosystem.
Dreyfus recently acquired a majority stake in Lovin Malta with the aim of allowing it to expand its reach and services while staying true to its mission of delivering exceptional journalism and entertainment to the Maltese community.
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