tZERO Group, Inc. and Blockchain Market, Inc. (d/b/a /mkt) have announced a strategic partnership to develop a regulated platform for tokenizing professional athletes' future earnings as securities available to retail investors. The collaboration combines tZERO's regulated blockchain infrastructure with /mkt's athlete investment platform, enabling both accredited and non-accredited investors to purchase fractional interests in athlete-linked performance contracts through Regulation A+ qualified offerings.
The partnership represents a significant development in digital securities infrastructure, applying blockchain technology to create an entirely new asset class within the professional sports market. tZERO will provide /mkt with access to its regulated alternative trading system (ATS), blockchain-native custody and settlement infrastructure, and transfer agent services, supporting the full lifecycle of tokenized athlete-linked securities. Primary distribution will be conducted through Forwardslash Financial LLC, /mkt's broker-dealer subsidiary, pending FINRA membership approval.
This initiative addresses a substantial market opportunity, as the global sports industry generates over $500 billion annually while individual athlete earnings have remained largely inaccessible as an investable asset class. Through this partnership, professional athletes can tokenize a portion of their future earnings into SEC-qualified securities offered under Regulation A+ (Tier 2), subject to SEC qualification and FINRA membership approval. The structure allows everyday investors to participate in the economic upside of professional athletes' careers through a regulated, transparent marketplace.
The tokenized approach offers several advantages over traditional securities, including blockchain-based settlement for enhanced speed and transparency, fractional ownership for broader accessibility, and the potential for extended trading hours on tZERO's ATS, which currently operates from 12:05 am to 11:35 pm ET on trading days. This brings athlete investment opportunities in line with modern investor expectations for market functionality.
Spencer Gareiss, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer of Blockchain Market, Inc., emphasized the partnership's significance, stating that athletes represent some of the world's most valuable brands but have lacked regulated, accessible investment vehicles. Alan Konevsky, Chief Executive Officer of tZERO Group, Inc., noted that sports represents a critical investment category that has been largely unseen outside of betting markets, highlighting how blockchain-enabled capital markets infrastructure can connect investors with opportunities historically outside traditional market structures.
Under the agreement, tZERO will provide comprehensive services including primary distribution through tZERO Securities, LLC, secondary market trading on its regulated ATS, blockchain-native custody through wallet infrastructure, transfer agent services for cap table management, and ongoing compliance and regulatory support. /mkt anticipates launching its first athlete-linked securities offerings in 2026, with secondary market trading on tZERO's ATS to follow. The company is currently preparing and filing its offering statement on Form 1-A with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Regulation A+ (Tier 2).
The partnership between tZERO and /mkt represents a convergence of regulated financial infrastructure with professional sports, potentially transforming how athletes monetize their careers and how investors access sports-related investment opportunities. By creating a liquid, publicly tradable market for athlete-linked performance contracts, this collaboration could democratize access to athlete economics while establishing new standards for transparency and regulatory compliance in digital securities. More information about tZERO can be found at https://www.tzero.com, while details about /mkt are available at https://www.sportsmkt.com.
