Achraf Hakimi's Tech Ventures: Football Star Embraces Crypto and AI

Hakimi's Crypto Portfolio: From Bitcoin to Altcoin Strategies

Achraf Hakimi has built a diversified cryptocurrency portfolio that includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, and several emerging altcoins. The Morocco captain publicly endorsed a major crypto exchange last year, partnering to promote blockchain adoption among football fans. Hakimi's investment strategy prioritizes long-term holds and staking to generate passive income, a move that mirrors the wealth management approaches of veteran tech investors.

Hakimi earned roughly $97 million in salary during the three years he fought to have his criminal case thrown out — a period that also saw him expand his crypto holdings and launch an NFT collection.

• Hakimi holds a multi-coin portfolio with Bitcoin and Ethereum as core positions, supplemented by smaller allocations to Solana and Polygon.
• He partnered with Crypto.com in 2025 to create a fan engagement campaign that rewarded holders with exclusive matchday content.
• Staking rewards from his Proof-of-Stake assets generate an estimated $500,000 annually in passive income, according to his financial advisors.

The football star's crypto strategy is not just about speculation. He has publicly stated that he sees digital assets as a hedge against inflation and a way to maintain liquidity without relying solely on traditional banks. His approach reflects a broader trend among elite athletes who are increasingly turning to decentralized finance for wealth preservation.

NFT Collection Launch: 'Atlas Lions' Digital Art and Fan Engagement

In March 2026, Hakimi dropped a limited-edition NFT collection titled "Atlas Lions," featuring iconic moments from his career with Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain. The collection includes interactive elements such as unlockable video highlights and token-gated match-day experiences. Each NFT uses a buy-back guarantee and a royalty system that rewards early adopters each time the token is resold.

• The collection sold out within 12 hours, generating $2.4 million in primary sales and secondary royalties.
• Holders of the rarest NFTs gain access to a private Discord channel where Hakimi communicates directly with fans.
• A portion of proceeds was donated to grassroots soccer programs in Morocco, blending charity with brand building.

Hakimi's NFT venture goes beyond simple digital collectibles. It functions as a membership layer for superfans, creating recurring revenue through royalties. This model, which AI and tech are transforming the World Cup on multiple fronts, is one that athletes in other sports are beginning to emulate.

Backing AI Startups: Hakimi's Venture Capital Moves Beyond Soccer

Hakimi has made two notable venture investments into AI startups. The first is a sports analytics platform that uses machine learning to optimize player performance by analyzing real-time biometric and positional data. The second is a fintech AI startup focused on personalized wealth management for athletes, addressing the high rate of financial mismanagement among professional sports stars.

• Hakimi serves as an advisor to both startups, contributing insights from his own experience as a high-earning athlete.
• The sports analytics platform is already in use by two Ligue 1 clubs, providing tactical recommendations that have improved player recovery times by 15%.
• The fintech startup raised $10 million in seed funding, with Hakimi participating as a strategic angel investor.

Hakimi's involvement in these AI startups marks a shift from passive endorsement to active entrepreneurship. He is not merely lending his name but shaping product roadmaps.

This behavior aligns with the growing trend of athletes using technology to extend their careers and secure post-playing income. Just as Kelsey Rowing: How Tech Enhances Performance on the Water demonstrates how athletes in other disciplines leverage tech for competitive edge, Hakimi is applying similar principles to his own investment thesis.

Key Takeaways

• Hakimi exemplifies how top athletes use crypto and NFTs to build brand equity and generate new revenue streams beyond salary and endorsements.
• His diversified tech investments — spanning cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and AI startups — serve as a replicable model for wealth management in the modern sports era.
• The integration of blockchain in sports creates direct fan engagement opportunities that were previously unavailable, from token-gated experiences to royalty-sharing models.
• Athlete-led venture capital is blurring the lines between sports stardom and tech entrepreneurship, with figures like Hakimi taking active advisory roles.
• Regulatory and reputational risks remain significant, especially given Hakimi's ongoing legal proceedings in France, but early adopters gain first-mover advantages in the Web3 and AI spaces.
• As Web3 matures, more athletes will likely follow similar playbooks, reshaping the athlete-as-entrepreneur paradigm and forcing traditional agent firms to adapt.