Panini America reveals blockchain cards coming in 2020

Panini America revealed on Thursday that it's looking toward blockchain ... next month.

They will be "the first officially licensed trading cards featuring blockchain technology," according to the company, and Panini Blockchain will showcase 100 notable players from the past and present into a release that will pair the technological to a physical card as well. They will arrive on Jan. 6 with a first wave of releases and each of the cards will be a 1/1 sold via Panini's site in U.S. funds only.

“We were very thorough and a number of factors were considered in selecting the players that will be released in our Panini trading cards that utilize blockchain technology,” said Mark Warsop, CEO of Panini America, in a prepared statement. “There is not a more iconic trading card than the rare 1909-11 Honus Wagner T206 baseball card. To be able to produce the first-ever Honus Wagner blockchain card, along with all of these other players utilizing blockchain technology and ensuring that these cards will now live forever in the digital realm, is truly an honor.”

The cards will use the National Treasures design and include a number of stars, including but not limited to Wagner, Mickey Mantle, Shohei Ohtani, Kobe Bryant, Zion Williamson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson, Christian Pulisic, Neymar and Kaapo Kakko.

"[They] will be sold in an auction format in U.S. dollars as opposed to a digital currency. Ten new cards will be released each week," read a company statement. "The blockchain asset will live on a closed Panini platform where sports fans and collectors can buy, sell and store their blockchain trading card assets. Each card is a unique 1/1 card that not only includes a blockchain digital asset -- but will be accompanied by a physical version of the card that includes an autograph of the respective player. In some cases, the physical card also will include a piece of memorabilia. The blockchain asset will be an exact representation of the physical version of the card."

And, as noted above, there will be multiple sports in play here as the program continues.

“We have spent years researching and exploring the best possible way to incorporate blockchain into our trading cards as another level of authentication – as well as the best way to introduce blockchain to sports fans and collectors,” Warsop said. “We believe our platform and the fact that the cards will be sold in U.S. dollars rather than a digital currency will help fans and collectors have a better understanding, knowing that their cards utilize blockchain as another level of authenticity.”

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