Share this article
OKX Overcomes FTX-Related Concerns Around Crypto Industry in $70M Expansion of Man City Sponsorship
Manchester City and OKX's other partners have been auditing the exchange's proof of reserves to make sure it won't go the same way as FTX.
Updated Jun 30, 2023, 6:41 p.m. Published Jun 30, 2023, 1:25 p.m.
Cryptocurrency exchange OKX has expanded its sponsorship deal with English and European soccer champions Manchester City, undeterred by negative associations of the crypto industry following the events of last year.
The OKX logo will be displayed on the sleeves of Man City's on-field shirts from next season in addition to its existing berth on the players' training kit, the exchange announced via email on Friday.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
OKX will pay the club $70 million over the course of the deal, which will last three years, OKX said.
Sponsorship of elite sports organizations by crypto firms became commonplace in 2021 and 2022, with the likes of FTX and Crypto.com putting their names on stadia and arenas as well as getting their brands visible on players or officials' uniforms.
However, the collapse of FTX in November last year has made clubs think twice before aligning themselves with crypto firms.
"Our partners definitely wanted to know if we would be in a similar situation to FTX," Haider Rafique, OKX's chief marketing officer, told CoinDesk in an interview. "Rather than answering those questions on an individual basis, we introduced them to our proof of reserves."
Proof of reserves are a cryptographic way of demonstrating that a crypto exchange is liquid enough to process all customer withdrawals, thereby reassuring its customers that their funds are secure.
Rafique said that partners such as Man City and Formula 1 team McLaren have been auditing OKX's proof of reserves, with board members even emailing the exchange with questions and queries.
"They were being very critical of us, so passing their litmus test is a real validation for us," Rafique said.
Read More: Crypto Exchange OKX Goes Live With ‘Nitro Spreads,’ Allowing One-Click Basis Trading
UPDATE (June 30, 15:08 UTC): Adds duration and cost of the deal and amends headline.
More For You
L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below.
What to know:
2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns.
This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026.
More For You
Coinbase agrees to buy The Clearing Company to deepen prediction markets push
The deal brings a team with specialized experience building event-based trading systems, including veterans from Polymarket and Kalshi.
What to know:
- Coinbase is acquiring The Clearing Company, a startup with experience in prediction markets, to help grow its newly introduced platform.
- The deal brings in a team with specialized experience building event-based trading systems, including veterans from Polymarket and Kalshi.
- The acquisition is part of Coinbase's plan to become an "Everything Exchange", offering a wide range of trading options, including novel cryptocurrencies, perpetual futures contracts, stocks, and prediction markets.
Top Stories
