It’s been a thrilling month since Botev Plovdiv boldly stepped into the future of finance by embracing Bitcoin and Nostr. Our journey, which began on October 31, has seen big milestones, and it’s time to celebrate these.
1. Embracing the Future: Bitcoin & Nostr
Our announcement about adopting Bitcoin and Nostr was a statement of our commitment to stay true to Botev’s history of leadership and pioneering. This move not only positioned us as a forward-thinking club but also opened new avenues for interactions between fans, players, and sponsors.. Shortly after the announcement Botev played one of its strongest matches this season in the derby against Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
🚨 BREAKING: Botev Plovdiv FC, Bulgaria's oldest football club, is now the first elite football team to embrace #Bitcoin! 🎉
— Botev Plovdiv (@botev_en) October 31, 2023
Block height: 814670
🧵 pic.twitter.com/SoVBjOhMOF
2. The Bitcoin Brand:Shining On Our Jerseys
A week after the announcement, we placed the Bitcoin ‘₿’ on our jerseys for all games. On the first game with the ₿ brand, our attacker Antoine Baroan stormed Levski to score Botev’s first goal with a ₿-branded jersey. This move was immediately welcomed by Bitcoiners around X and Nostriches across the web.
🔥 On the day of the big derby between Botev and Levski at the "Vivacom Arena – Georgi Asparuhov" stadium, the club takes a second step towards embracing #Bitcoin.
— Botev Plovdiv (@botev_en) November 12, 2023
👕 Starting today, Bitcoin logo will adorn the jerseys of the "Canaries." pic.twitter.com/Lc0m4ccWDt
3. A Special Offer: 10% Discount on Bitcoin Purchases
To encourage our fans to engage with Bitcoin, Botev offered a 10% discount on all purchases made with bitcoin in our fan shops and on the stadium. And who doesn’t love discounts? Our fans do as well, which is why we decided to extend this offer throughout December.
⚡️ Don't forget, throughout November, you can enjoy a 10% discount at our fan shops 🛍️ and Hristo Botev stadium 🏟️when paying with #bitcoin. pic.twitter.com/cJ75qL75Mx
— Botev Plovdiv (@botev_en) November 16, 2023
4. Bitcoin ATM at the Fan Shop
In order to make Bitcoin tangible and to make the 10% discount available even to Bitcoin newbies, the club partnered with CryptoDesk.bg which installed a Bitcoin ATM at our downtown fan shop. This new feature simplifies Bitcoin transactions for our fans, catering to both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers embarking on their Bitcoin journey.
Botev FC continues to educate about Bitcoin with a powerful move! 💪 Now, there's a #Bitcoin ATM 🏧 conveniently located at our downtown Plovdiv fan shop.
— Botev Plovdiv (@botev_en) November 16, 2023
Kudos to our partners @cryptodeskbg for making this happen 🙌 pic.twitter.com/FZeYnknD45
5. Bridging Communities: Monthly Bitcoin Meetups
Even before the Botev FC’s first official Bitcoin announcement the club initiated regular monthly Bitcoin meetups, creating a platform where Botev fans and Bitcoin enthusiasts could mingle, exchange ideas, and strengthen our community bonds. It has been inspiring to have an average of 40 people coming to every meetup. Are you visiting Plovdiv? When you do, join us at club Fargo every first Tuesday of the month from 19:30.
The love for Botev 💛🖤meets the love for Bitcoin 🧡
— Botev Plovdiv (@botev_en) November 25, 2023
Inspiring words from Zhorо Nikolov! Today he beautifully intertwined the worlds of #BotevFC and #Bitcoin, shedding light on the exciting possibilities ahead. ⚽️
Stay tuned so you don't miss our upcoming meetups! pic.twitter.com/ytwvCT1Fa0
6. Bitcoin Journalist Joe Nakamoto Visited Botev
Adding to the excitement, we had the pleasure of hosting Joe Nakamoto, who is soon releasing a mini-documentary about Botev Plovdiv.
“The most historic team in Bulgaria adopting this new ‘magic’ internet currency that very few people understand, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
His visit underlines the growing interest in our club’s tech-savvy steps and the potential impact on the world of football and finance.
Can you imagine Liverpool FC adopting #bitcoin? ⚽️
— Joe Nakamoto ⚡️ (@JoeNakamoto) November 24, 2023
🇧🇬 This is the Bulgarian equivalent, Botev Plovdiv:@botev_en ⚡️
Historic team, hardcore fan base, strong accent and they win a lot! 🏆
Yep there’s a bitcoin LN ATM in the fan shop and a btc logo on my new shirt!⚡️ pic.twitter.com/ltLR27LYNb
During his visit, Joe joined our Bitcoin meetup, featuring an insightful talk by Zhoro Nikolov on the synergy between football and Bitcoin. He also witnessed the Canaries’ thrilling 3:1 victory over Pirin:
🎬 Experience the thrill: Dive into our recent match with this exclusive video. Experience the energy and passion all over again! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/a1hI5KX1Em
— Botev Plovdiv (@botev_en) November 28, 2023
7. First Podcast Appearance: Business Bitcoinization
George Manolov, our Bitcoin Director, recently took the stage at the Business Bitcoinization podcast about Botev FC’s strategic Bitcoin adoption. He outlined the reasons, vision, and plans, highlighting this as a step towards global recognition and elevating Botev FC to the international level it deserves to play at..
"Bitcoin allows every business, every individual to benefit financially, socially and technologically".
— Botev Plovdiv (@botev_en) November 29, 2023
Dive into the fascinating discussion between @bitcoinreadyme and @joshuafriedeman as they explore the intersection of football and #Bitcoin. From the "why" to the "how"' and… https://t.co/6vXKkE2dTx
A Wave of International Recognition and Support
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate this one-month milestone, we look forward to continuing this journey of improving team performance and integrating Bitcoin into our club’s fabric. We’re committed to being at the forefront of innovation, and we can’t wait to share this exciting future with our fans.
Join us in this journey, both on and off the field!
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