MEXC CEO Vugar Usi: Fan tokens and blockchain are reshaping football's economy

The 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States is the first tournament to take place in an era where fans are no longer just spectators - they can become active participants in a financial ecosystem built around the game. Fan tokens, tokenized club assets and blockchain-based collectibles are turning everyday supporters into market players. Few observe this shift as closely as Vugar Usi, CEO of global crypto exchange MEXC, which serves more than 40 million users across 170+ countries. In an exclusive interview with Football.ua, he discussed the potential of fan tokens, the World Cup's impact on crypto markets, MEXC's strategy and what it all means for Ukraine. "I grew up watching football as a force that crosses borders," Usi said. "The fastest way to connect with someone anywhere in the world is still to talk about football." He personally negotiated multi-million-dollar partnerships with Lionel Messi and LaLiga - at the time among the biggest sports deals in the crypto industry. Usi joined MEXC because of its "organic growth." The exchange didn't rely on flashy marketing or celebrity endorsements but built its audience through the product itself. His goal is to push MEXC into the global top three or four within two years. He predicts that within one or two years, the lines between "crypto exchanges," "neobanks" and "brokers" will disappear. What will emerge is an everything exchange - a universal gateway to all asset classes: crypto, tokenized stocks, commodities, real-world assets (RWA). "One account, one interface - access to everything from Bitcoin to tokenized Tesla shares and your favorite team's fan tokens," the CEO explained. SportFi - the blend of sports and finance - is a key growth area for MEXC. Usi sees fan tokens not as a short-term hype but as a fundamental shift in how fans engage with clubs. Digital assets give holders voting rights on club decisions, exclusive rewards and the ability to trade assets whose value is tied to sentiment around sports brands.