Britain's National Crime Agency has frozen approximately $13.5 million (£10 million) that crypto card game Sorare paid to the Premier League under a multi-year licensing agreement. The action, part of a civil-recovery investigation targeting alleged third-party criminality, raises questions about the viability of high-value crypto sponsorships in global sports.
Details of the Freeze Order
Westminster Magistrates' Court issued the account-freezing order in January 2025, though the decision was only made public this week by The Sun. The frozen funds total £10,024,041.33 and sit in a Barclays account belonging to The Football Association Premier League Limited.
The NCA said the order aims to prevent dissipation of the funds while it investigates any potential links to alleged third-party criminality. The Premier League has not been accused of wrongdoing and has asked the court to amend the order, which remains in effect until September 14.
According to the ICLG report, the frozen amount represents the initial payment under a 2023 licensing arrangement estimated at roughly £120 million over four years. The agreement allowed Sorare to produce digital trading cards featuring players from all 20 Premier League clubs. Sorare has stated the deal will conclude with the 2025-26 season.
Sorare's Crypto-Football Expansion
Founded in 2018 with an Ethereum-based marketplace, Sorare introduced fiat payments through its Cash Wallet in 2023 and moved its digital cards to Solana in late 2025, adding SOL cryptocurrency as a payment option. The Sun reports the company is valued at £3.21 billion. Its investor and ambassador roster includes Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Zinedine Zidane, Rio Ferdinand, and Serena Williams.
Nick Brett, partner at Brett Wilson, noted that account-freezing orders are made by magistrates on application and that the proceedings are civil rather than criminal in nature. Brett cautioned that the funds may relate to transactions made through Sorare or be of an entirely separate origin, meaning the order itself is not an indication of wrongdoing.
Overlapping Regulatory Pressures
The NCA freeze adds to Sorare's existing legal challenges in the United Kingdom. The Gambling Commission has accused the company of conducting gaming activity in the UK without the required license under the Gambling Act 2005. A trial is scheduled for June 7, 2027, at Birmingham Magistrates' Court. Sorare has pleaded not guilty, arguing its game is skill-based rather than dependent on chance.
Chris Roberts, head of white-collar crime at Grosvenor Law, said authorities will be particularly vigilant where gambling and digital assets intersect, regardless of the profile of the company involved. Roberts added that greater sums increase the likelihood that authorities will issue freezing orders to secure assets for potential restitution.
FCA Scrutiny of Crypto Sponsorships
The case sits within a broader UK regulatory push to examine football sponsorships. On June 3, 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority warned multiple clubs about the risks of working with unauthorized financial and cryptocurrency firms. A subsequent freedom-of-information release showed the FCA wrote to 21 clubs and identified 18 sponsorship arrangements involving 13 clubs and firms the regulator had not authorised. The FCA stressed that a lack of authorisation does not itself prove unlawful conduct.
Lucy Castledine, the FCA's consumer-investments director, said clubs should not allow unauthorized firms to exploit supporters' loyalty by promoting potentially questionable products to millions of fans. She noted simply that a logo on a shirt means one thing: that firm paid for it.
Digital-asset brands continue to acquire high-visibility football partnerships. Circle has a deal with Chelsea, OKX is linked to Manchester City, and Kraken has partnered with Tottenham.
