The UK's National Crime Agency froze roughly $13.5 million in cash tied to Sorare, a blockchain-based fantasy sports platform that has partnered with several Premier League football clubs, as part of an ongoing investigation into the company.
What Happened
Authorities in the United Kingdom secured the freezing order in January 2025 through the Westminster Magistrates' Court, locking down the multimillion-dollar sum while the National Crime Agency examines the firm. Sorare, which is headquartered in France, operates a platform where users collect and trade digital player cards as non-fungible tokens and compete in fantasy sports contests.
The company has built a high-profile presence in the sports world through sponsorship and licensing deals, including arrangements with top-flight English football clubs. Those relationships have made the investigation particularly notable, given the visibility Sorare has cultivated across professional leagues.
A crypto firm with deep ties to elite football now finds millions in cash frozen under a UK court order.
Regulatory Scrutiny
Sorare has previously drawn attention from regulators over whether its NFT-based fantasy games amount to gambling. In France, the platform faced questions from national gaming authorities, and its model has repeatedly raised the issue of how digital collectibles blended with real-money competition should be classified under existing law.
The freezing of funds marks an escalation in official scrutiny, moving beyond regulatory debate into a formal law enforcement action. Cash seizure and freezing orders are tools UK agencies use when they suspect assets may be linked to unlawful activity, though such orders do not by themselves establish wrongdoing.
Key points from the case include:
- The National Crime Agency is leading the probe into Sorare
- A UK court approved the freeze in January 2025
- Roughly $13.5 million in cash is affected
The investigation remains open, and the outcome could carry implications for how crypto-linked fantasy sports operators are treated by regulators and law enforcement across Europe.