Blockchain Market, Inc. (d/b/a /mkt) and tZERO Group, Inc. announced a strategic partnership to launch a platform that tokenizes professional athletes' future earnings into SEC-regulated securities under Regulation A+. The collaboration combines /mkt's athlete investment platform with tZERO's blockchain-powered infrastructure, including its alternative trading system (ATS), custody, settlement, and transfer agent services.
Under the partnership, tZERO will provide /mkt with broker-dealer services through tZERO Securities, LLC, secondary trading on its regulated ATS, blockchain-native custody, and ongoing compliance support. Primary distribution will be conducted through Forwardslash Financial LLC, /mkt's broker-dealer subsidiary currently pending FINRA membership approval. The platform aims to create a liquid, publicly tradable market for athlete-linked performance contracts, allowing both accredited and non-accredited investors to purchase fractional interests.
“Athletes are some of the most valuable brands in the world, yet until now there has been no regulated, accessible way for fans and investors to share in that upside,” said Spencer Gareiss, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer of /mkt. “By combining our sports-native platform with tZERO’s proven regulatory infrastructure and trading technology, we’re opening an entirely new market.”
Alan Konevsky, CEO of tZERO, added: “Sports is a critical investment category that’s been largely unseen outside of the betting markets. Through this partnership with /mkt, we’re applying tZERO’s regulated broker-dealer-led digital securities infrastructure to support innovative athlete-linked investments designed for investor participation from day one.”
The global sports industry generates over $500 billion annually, yet individual athlete earnings have remained inaccessible as an investable asset class. /mkt securitizes a percentage of an athlete's future income into Regulation A+ qualified offerings, made available through tZERO's regulated marketplace. The tokenized structure offers blockchain-based settlement for speed and transparency, fractional ownership, and potential 24/7 secondary trading on tZERO's ATS.
/mkt expects to launch its first athlete-linked securities offerings in 2026, with secondary trading to follow. The company is preparing its Form 1-A filing with the SEC under Regulation A+ (Tier 2). No securities are currently available for purchase.
For more information, visit sportsmkt.com and tzero.com.
