The Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler, notable bitcoin billionaires, have recently acquired a 45% ownership in Real Bedford, a semi-professional football club situated in the ninth tier of the English league system.
Their investment fund, Winklevoss Capital, purchased the stake using $4.5 million worth of bitcoin. Real Bedford, which is part of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and draws an average crowd of 440 spectators, is primarily owned by Peter McCormack.
McCormack, a Bitcoin investor and podcast host, is driven by the goal of advancing the team to the Premier League. Additionally, the twins’ Bitcoin exchange, Gemini, is already a sponsor of the team.
The acquisition by the Winklevoss twins is reportedly the largest investment ever made in a non-league football team and is indicative of growing American interest in lower-tier English football, following the purchase of Wrexham by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2020.
The twins, who first gained public attention at Harvard where they met Mark Zuckerberg, rose to fame with their portrayal in the film “The Social Network,” which depicted the origins of Facebook. They later sued Zuckerberg and settled for $65 million, a portion of which they invested in Bitcoin, becoming the first widely recognized cryptocurrency billionaires.
Peter McCormack, who acquired what was then known as Bedford United in 2021, has rebranded the club as Real Bedford. Under his leadership, the club now accepts bitcoin, maintains a “bitcoin treasury” for financial backing, and broadcasts its games on YouTube to reach a global audience of cryptocurrency enthusiasts. McCormack describes the club as “an anarchist club, a ‘f— you’ club,” emphasizing a commitment to freedom and financial integrity.
Cameron Winklevoss commented on the investment, noting that they were drawn to Real Bedford for its potential as an “underdog story.” He added that he and his brother, who also competed as rowers in the 2008 Olympics, became familiar with football during their time at Oxford.
Mr. Winklevoss mentioned that he and his brother plan to attend “a bunch of” matches at McMullen Park, the home of Real Bedford, which has a capacity of 1,000 seats.
Recently, bitcoin reached a new all-time high, surpassing the $70,000 threshold for the first time.
