Just yesterday, FIFA announced that it is moving its NFT platform FIFA Collect to an EVM-compatible blockchain. Okay, sounds good on the surface, right? Improved ease of use, scalability, the potential for cool new future features. We're told this is all happening on or after May 20, 2025, and that's the date you should remember. Though they call it a free agency of movement, in search of greater efficiency and effectiveness. Is it really?
Is This True Decentralization?
Here's where my eyebrows raise. We’re always being told about decentralization, blockchain’s most fundamental principle. EVM-compatible often translates to centralized control. Are we trading true ownership for convenience? Are we trading one wild west of crypto for a new walled garden?
Think about it. FIFA, as an armada of a very large organization, is in many ways declaring, “We’re going this direction, get on board.” What about the ethos of permissionless innovation? What about censorship resistance? Are these noble ideals being sacrificed at the altar of scalability? It definitely feels a little bit like a king moving his court – everyone else just has to pack up and follow.
This is not to downplay the importance of scalability. That is very much needed, too. But at what cost?
Mainstream Appeal or Community Alienation?
Let's dive into the money. But will this step bring in new, more mainstream users—the casual fans that aren’t crypto natives? Probably. Will it bring in more investment? Likely. Yet what happens to the homegrown community, the early adopters who invested in the initial promise of a more decentralized future? Will they feel betrayed? Or will they view this as a Disney cash grab, a dilution of the original spirit?
Now the value of FIFA Collect NFTs is completely dependent on FIFA Blockchain. The inherent value of these collectibles are now subject to the whims and vagaries of FIFA. That’s a lot of power to put all in one entity.
And what about those Algorand-based wallets? Defly, Pera – they're out. MetaMask and other EVM-compatible wallets are in. That’s a definite move away from the Ethereum ecosystem, but a possible stumbling block for users new to that world.
African Entrepreneurs: Opportunity or More Control?
As a digital entrepreneur, I advocate decentralized innovation and empowerment to African creators. In short, I’m bullish and I’m bearish on this space – all at once. NFTs represent a creative new frontier for artists and entrepreneurs from every corner of the continent. Now, they can directly reach audiences around the world, without needing those old gatekeepers. If the platform gets overly centralized, overly controlled by FIFA, that promise gets eroded.
Here's the unexpected connection: Imagine a young artist in Nairobi creating incredible digital art, minting it as an NFT, and finding a global audience through FIFA Collect. Now, picture this: FIFA suddenly changing the rules to censor certain forms of art or to levy extreme taxes. That artist is at FIFA's mercy. This is exactly what decentralized, permissionless systems were meant to prevent!
Now, I don’t think any of us believe that FIFA is really serious about empowering these creators. Or are they simply adding them to a more advanced version of tyranny itself?
Decentralization vs. Pragmatism: The Real Battle
Look, I get it. FIFA is a huge organization. They have shareholders to report to, state laws they must follow. They require a robust platform, one that can reach and engage millions of users. We should acknowledge that decentralization, in its purest form, can be unruly, cumbersome and unwieldy.
Just because some of those ideas may have failed doesn’t mean we should throw out the principles of decentralization. For the record, there’s a healthy balance between pragmatism and idealism. The big-picture question, really, is simply this: has FIFA struck the right balance?
I suspect not. This seems much more like going where the wind blows, jumping on the EVM bandwagon because everybody else is. That’s a bad faith move motivated by corporate interests, not a real interest in pursuing decentralization.
So, what can we do? But first, we should strongly scrutinize this shift. Don't just blindly accept the marketing spin. Demand transparency from FIFA. Don’t just ask them how they’re going to continue doing what they’re already doing and maybe a little better. Question them about how their plans will guarantee user control and avoid censorship.
| Feature | Decentralized Ideal | FIFA's EVM Shift (Potentially) |
|---|---|---|
| Control | User-owned | FIFA-controlled |
| Censorship | Resistant | Susceptible |
| Permission | Unnecessary | Required |
| Innovation | Open | Potentially Restricted |
Demand Transparency, Advocate for Freedom
Second, we have to push for the inclusion of features that allow for decentralization to take place within the new ecosystem. This means pushing for things like:
Ultimately, this isn't just about FIFA Collect. It’s not just about the future of blockchain, of NFTs, and of digital ownership. We need to wield these tools to liberate people instead. Let’s make sure we don’t allow them to centralize that power in the hands of a few.
- User-governance mechanisms: Allow users to have a say in the platform's future.
- Open-source code: Ensure transparency and allow developers to build on the platform.
- Censorship-resistant protocols: Protect freedom of expression.
We can’t let the realization of this promise of decentralization turn into another ghost marketing buzzword. As consumers and advocates, we have to make sure that FIFA and other organizations like them are held accountable. So let’s fight for a future where technology actually works for all of us.
Let's not allow the promise of decentralization to become just another marketing buzzword. We, as users and advocates, have a responsibility to hold organizations like FIFA accountable and to demand a future where technology truly serves the people.
