Manchester City backs away from tie up with crypto firm 3Key Technologies

English Premier League football club Manchester City has suspended a partnership with a cryptocurrency startup just days after announcing it to the world.

According to Daily Mail reporter Jack Gaughan, Manchester City is currently “conducting further enquiries” regarding 3Key Technologies, with which it inked a deal on 12th November.

At the time, the Premier League champions said the tie up would see the decentralised finance (DeFi) trading analysis and advisory technology company become an official regional partner.

Manchester City suspend partnership with "3Key", a start-up cryptocurrency firm whose executives do not seem to appear on internet searches. Partnership was announced last week. pic.twitter.com/Hi02Z2IxAR
— Jack Gaughan (@Jack_Gaughan) November 19, 2021

In addition to the brand featuring across a number of club digital assets, 3Key and Manchester City would collaborate on a series of content activations and events, raising awareness of 3Key software and products.

Stephan Cieplik, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships Sales, City Football Group, said: “We are delighted to launch this partnership with 3Key.

“As a global organisation, Manchester City is continually looking for ways to further build the club’s presence in international markets and we are excited to partner with 3Key in their journey to simplify the DeFi trading analysis user experience through the power of football to engage with our fans with a range of content and activations.”

Now, however, Manchester City is getting cold feet after it emerged that 3Key’s executives had little if any digital footprints.

“The closest anyone has come to verified information is a photo of a man with a ginger beard in a checked suit who may or may not be 3Key’s ‘Chief Growth Strategist’ Jacob Caine,” said Guardian reporter Paul MacInnes.

A Manchester City spokesperson said: “Prompted by the club’s interactions with 3Key Technologies in recent days, we are now conducting further enquiries regarding the company and the partnership has been suspended pending satisfactory resolution to all of those enquiries.”

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