Michael Owen Joins Manny Pacquiao in Singapore Crypto Coin Push
Crypto Craze Sees Singapore Firm Tapping Sports Stars for Tokens
(Bloomberg) -- Global Crypto Offering Exchange is attempting to capitalize on the intersection of avid fanbases -- sports and cryptocurrencies -- to grab investor dollars in the frenzied initial coin offering space.
The company has teamed up with ex-Liverpool soccer star Michael Owen to issue a cryptocurrency in his name -- the OWN coin. Owen joins boxing veteran Manny Pacquiao as investors and issuers of celebrity tokens with the exchange.
“You have to be brave and sometimes put faith in things,” Owen said in an interview in Hong Kong, when asked about investing in still-new cryptocurrencies, which some have derided as worthless.
The tokens will be usable to buy merchandise or make donations to charities chosen by the athletes, as well as for personalized interactions with them. The launch date for the OWN will come next quarter, and it will also be connected to soccer training centers and tutorial programs Owen is developing, according to the Singapore-based Global Crypto Offering Exchange.
To contact the reporters on this story: Eric Lam in Hong Kong at elam87@bloomberg.net, Denise Wee in Hong Kong at dwee10@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Christopher Anstey at canstey@bloomberg.net, Andrew Monahan
©2018 Bloomberg L.P.
