FIFA migrates from Algorand to new EVM-compatible blockchain for NFTs

FIFA migrates from Algorand to new EVM-compatible blockchain for NFTs

FIFA outlines seamless transition to enhance digital collectibles security and future capabilities on new blockchain.

FIFA Collect, a digital platform created by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) that allows football fans to collect, trade, and enjoy digital collectibles featuring iconic moments from football history, announced today it will migrate its NFT platform to a new EVM-compatible FIFA blockchain.

The transition, scheduled to begin no earlier than May 20, aims to support enhanced performance, future features, and improved scalability for the platform’s digital collectibles ecosystem.

According to FIFA, this change will not affect users’ access to their accounts or existing digital collectibles. All assets will remain fully secure and accessible throughout and after the migration process.

The upgrade will bring changes to wallet compatibility, with Algorand-based wallets like Pera and Defly no longer supported post-migration. Users will instead be able to connect using MetaMask or other EVM-compatible wallets that support WalletConnect.

“The FIFA Blockchain was created to support new experiences, enable wallet compatibility, and provide stronger foundations for future innovation,” FIFA stated in its migration FAQ document.

Users who have exported collectibles must reimport them before the migration date to ensure inclusion in the automatic transfer process. After the cut-off date, manual migrations will require additional verification.

USDC balances will remain available for spending until the migration date and can be withdrawn, but not spent, after the transition. Listed collectibles will automatically transfer to the new platform unless users delist them before the migration.

FIFA’s year-long partnership with Algorand

In May 2022, FIFA announced a strategic collaboration with Algorand, naming it the official blockchain partner of the organization. As part of the agreement, Algorand provided a blockchain-supported wallet solution and played a key role in shaping FIFA’s digital asset strategy.

Through this collaboration, FIFA explored blockchain-driven innovations such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital wallets, with a focus on transparency, sustainability, and revenue growth.

The partnership led to the launch of FIFA Collect later in 2022. Powered by Algorand, the NFT platform enables fans to collect and engage with iconic football moments in digital form.

ALGO, Algorand’s native asset, dropped 3% to $0.2213 on Binance following the news.