Bulgaria’s oldest football club, Botev Plovdiv FC, has adopted Bitcoin and Lightning Network for peer-to-peer payments.
Bitcoin has reached a new adoption milestone. Botev Plovdiv FC, the oldest football club in Bulgaria, has adopted Bitcoin and Lightning Network payments and joined the Nostr decentralized protocol.
Fans can now utilize Bitcoin for peer-to-peer payments at Botev Plovdiv FC’s fan stores and stand during Parva Liga matches, effective immediately. The club also has plans to accept Bitcoin payments for ticket purchases and its online store.
The president of the 111-year-old football club, Anton Zingarevich, was enthusiastic about the transfer and highlighted the potential of the Lightning Network. He stated in a press statement:
“We foresee Bitcoin payments becoming as ubiquitous as the internet in our daily lives. This integration not only aligns with our vision but also offers our fans and stakeholders unparalleled convenience.“
Through a partnership with BTCPay Server, a Bitcoin payment processor known for its open-source architecture, secure infrastructure, and minimal merchant fees, the initiative became a reality. Bitcoinize.com provided the point-of-sale devices in collaboration with CryptoDesk.bg.
Nicolas Dorier, the inventor of BTCPay Server, emphasized the significance of local Bitcoin adoption and stated that the company is committed to supporting transformative endeavors such as the work in Plovdiv.
George Manolov, director of Bitcoin at Botev Plovdiv FC, stated, “Bitcoin offers a universe of technological, social, and financial opportunities.”
“At Botev, we’re thrilled to lead these innovations into sports, harnessing their transformative energy to elevate our club to unprecedented heights. As Bulgaria’s oldest football club, anticipate pioneering products and initiatives from us.“
Botev Plovdiv FC has redesigned its online presence in addition to adopting Bitcoin. The club’s official website has been updated, its English social media channels have been modernized, and an account has been created on Nostr. This decentralized protocol offers censorship-resistant social media.
The adoption of Bitcoin and decentralized technologies is comparable to that of Real Bedford, the first football club in the world to incorporate Bitcoin. The chairman of Real Bedford, Peter McCormack, commented on the news from Bulgaria.
“It is so cool to see more football clubs adopt the Bitcoin cheat code. Not only will it bring more success to their club, but it will also widen the net for Bitcoin awareness.”
Since 2021, McCormack has integrated Bitcoin into Real Bedford, and he also spoke with Plovdiv before it adopted Bitcoin. According to McCormack, Bitcoin’s distinctive characteristics serve as an access code for life. In the spring of 2024, he will conduct the “Cheat Code” conference in Bedford.
“I expect we will continue to see not just other football clubs but all types of sports teams adopt the cheat code.“
Fans attending Plovdiv’s home game against the second-place team in the league, Lokomotiv Plovdiv, will be able to pay using Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. The team announced Bitcoin white paper day to commemorate the occasion and demonstrate its support for the cryptocurrency.
