80 Days Before 2026 World Cup, Chiliz Shifts to 'Omnichain' with Solana and Base Expansion

On April 28, 2026, 80 days before the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Chiliz Group implemented its most significant structural change since the introduction of Fan Tokens. Chiliz officially announced an 'Omnichain' deployment strategy, moving away from its existing single Layer-1 network model to expand its ecosystem to Solana and Base. This is a strategic move to secure broad liquidity and developer activity in line with the heightening global football fever.

By bringing Fan Tokens to Solana and Base, Chiliz has recorded the largest expansion in the history of sports digital assets.

Chiliz, which launched its own Layer-1 network in 2023, now supports the use of tokens across multiple blockchains through integration with LayerZero. This technical transition is designed so that Fan Tokens are not isolated to a specific network but are accessible anywhere in the global market. Through this, Chiliz demonstrated its commitment to evolving beyond a closed ecosystem into a true multi-chain infrastructure.

Strategic Integration with Solana and Base

Chiliz chose Solana and Base because of the active ecosystems and high user engagement these networks possess. Solana's fast processing speed and Base's Ethereum Layer-2 scalability are expected to play a key role in attracting new crypto-native fans who did not interact with the existing Chiliz Chain. In particular, Base has the strength of providing mainstream accessibility through its link with Coinbase.

• ['Application of Omnichain integration technology using LayerZero', 'Provision of Fan Token liquidity to Solana and Base networks', 'Investment of $50 million to $100 million for re-entry into the U.S. market', "Introduction of 'Fan Token Play,' where the token economy changes based on match results"]

This expansion is a strategic choice targeting the fact that the 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Chiliz, which had been passive in the U.S. market due to regulatory uncertainty, plans to invest $50 million to $100 million starting from this World Cup to establish Fan Token partnerships within the U.S. This is an attempt to solidify the position of Fan Tokens in the U.S., one of the world's largest sports markets.

The market reacted immediately to Chiliz's move. Following the announcement on April 28, 2026, the price of Chiliz (CHZ) rose by approximately 13%, reflecting high investor expectations. Analysts suggest that the expansion to Solana and Base will solve the chronic liquidity shortage problem previously identified in Fan Token trading and create a smoother trading environment.

Summary of Chiliz Omnichain Expansion

Chiliz's expansion is the result of a combination of technical progress and market strategy. The Omnichain model, implemented through LayerZero technology, breaks down barriers between different blockchains and allows fans to freely trade tokens on their preferred networks. This reflects Chiliz's long-term vision to build a massive digital infrastructure that unites global sports fandom, beyond simply increasing liquidity.

Chiliz also unveiled the 'Fan Token Play' initiative, which goes beyond simple asset holding. This is a system where actual results on the field directly affect the tokenomics, featuring a dynamic structure where token issuance and burning occur based on the team's performance. This interaction is expected to drive a new level of fan engagement not seen in previous tournaments, elevating Fan Tokens from a simple investment vehicle to a practical tool for participation.

The World Cup, opening in June 2026, will take place across three countries for 39 days and attract worldwide attention. During this period, Chiliz aims to prove the efficiency of its multi-chain infrastructure and establish its unrivaled position as a sports blockchain layer. It remains to be seen what kind of impact the new fan experience Chiliz presents after the 80-day preparation period will have on the cryptocurrency market.