The partnership between blockchain infrastructure provider tZERO Group, Inc. and athlete investment platform Blockchain Market, Inc. (d/b/a /mkt) aims to create the first regulated marketplace where retail investors can purchase tokenized securities tied to professional athletes' future earnings. This collaboration combines tZERO's regulated blockchain infrastructure with /mkt's sports investment platform, potentially creating an entirely new asset class accessible to both accredited and non-accredited investors.
The global sports industry generates over $500 billion annually, yet individual athlete earnings have remained inaccessible as an investable asset class. The partnership addresses this gap by enabling athletes to tokenize a portion of their future earnings into SEC-qualified securities offered under Regulation A+ (Tier 2). This structure allows retail investors to purchase fractional interests in athlete-linked performance contracts, creating what could become a liquid, publicly tradable market.
Spencer Gareiss, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer of Blockchain Market, Inc., stated that "athletes are some of the most valuable brands in the world, yet until now there has been no regulated, accessible way for fans and investors to share in that upside." The partnership aims to change this by combining /mkt's sports-native platform with tZERO's regulatory infrastructure and trading technology.
tZERO will provide comprehensive infrastructure support including primary distribution through its broker-dealer subsidiaries, secondary trading on its SEC- and FINRA-regulated alternative trading system (ATS), blockchain-native custody and settlement, and transfer agent services. The ATS currently operates from 12:05 am to 11:35 pm ET on days it is open for business, potentially offering extended trading hours compared to traditional markets.
Alan Konevsky, Chief Executive Officer of tZERO Group, Inc., noted that "sports is a critical investment category and one that's been largely unseen outside of the betting markets." The partnership applies tZERO's regulated broker-dealer-led digital securities infrastructure to support innovative athlete-linked investments designed for investor participation from day one.
The tokenized structure offers potential benefits that traditional securities cannot provide, including blockchain-based settlement for speed and transparency, fractional ownership for broad accessibility, and the possibility of 24/7 secondary market trading. This approach brings athlete investment in line with how modern investors expect markets to function.
/mkt expects to launch its first athlete-linked securities offerings in 2026, with secondary market trading on tZERO's ATS to follow. The company is currently preparing and filing its offering statement on Form 1-A with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Regulation A+ (Tier 2). No offering has been qualified and no securities are currently available for purchase.
The partnership represents a significant development at the intersection of sports, finance, and blockchain technology. By creating a regulated pathway for athlete investment, it could democratize access to sports economics while providing athletes with new capital-raising opportunities. For more information about /mkt, visit https://www.sportsmkt.com, and for details about tZERO's infrastructure, visit their website.
