FIFA officially announced the migration of its NFT platform, FIFA Collect, from the Algorand blockchain to a newly developed EVM-compatible network. The transition is expected to begin no earlier than May 20. At the same time, it shows the global football organization’s commitment to future-proofing its web3 ecosystem. The move to the EVM blockchain will bring better scalability, enhanced wallet compatibility, and improved functionality.
FIFA Collect allows fans to buy, sell, and trade digital collectibles capturing iconic moments from football history. While the development may seem technical, the change holds big implications for users. First, Algorand-native wallets such as Pera and Defly will no longer be supported.
Instead, users must prepare to connect using MetaMask or other EVM-compatible wallets that support WalletConnect. FIFA has assured its user base that assets will remain fully secure and accessible throughout and after the migration process.
In a migration FAQ, FIFA explained that the new infrastructure was designed to support new experiences, enable wallet compatibility, and provide a stronger foundation for future innovation. As part of the transition, users who exported their NFTs must reimport them before the cutoff to ensure automatic inclusion.
After migration, manual imports will require additional verification. Additionally, while USDC balances can be spent until the migration date, they can only be withdrawn. It will no longer be used for purchases after the platform switches over to the new blockchain.
End of the Road for the Algorand Partnership
This move also indicates the end of FIFA’s year-long relationship with Algorand, which had been its official blockchain partner since May 2022. The collaboration saw Algorand provide a blockchain-supported wallet solution and help launch FIFA Collect later that year.
However, FIFA’s move away from Algorand shows the growing preference within the industry for EVM-compatible chains. This is mainly due to their flexibility and developer familiarity. The announcement had an immediate market impact, as Algorand’s native token ALGO dropped by 3%, falling to $0.2213 on Binance shortly after the news broke.
Although the exact reasons for the switch have not been revealed, the crypto community views it as a strategic move. In fact, it will help position FIFA more competitively within the changing NFT sector.
Implications for the NFT and Sports Fan Ecosystem
As blockchain technology matures, scalability, interoperability, and user accessibility have become essential metrics. By adopting an EVM-compatible chain, FIFA opens the door for deeper integrations and community development. It could potentially integrate cross-chain interoperability with other NFT ecosystems.
A major reason the NFT sector might change is the impact of FIFA on the sports world. As the governing body in football, integration with EVM-compatible chains will enable easier and faster minting of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
For users and collectors, the immediate focus remains on preparing for the migration. Users will be busy with reimporting assets and transitioning to supported wallets. For FIFA, however, this may mark a key milestone in changing its digital presence.
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