Revolutionizing Sports: Karate Combat’s $18M Funding Launches First-Ever Fan-Controlled DAO League and Crypto Token!

Karate Combat, the first sports league to adopt a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) structure, has announced a landmark $18 million funding round. The investment, led by BITKRAFT Ventures, will support the launch of the league’s revolutionary Up Only Gaming App and $KARATE token on May 10.

$18 Million Funding Paves the Way for Innovative Karate Combat App

Today’s announcement brings together industry-leading names, including Delphi Digital, The Operating Group, Alpha Wave Global, Hashkey, Lattice, M13, Santiago R Santos, and RookieXBT, who join the league’s founders, Not Boring Capital and Keyboard Monkey, in backing the organization.

The investment is set to accelerate the league’s digital transformation by supporting the Karate Combat App’s launch, creating a new paradigm in fan engagement. The platform will offer free $KARATE tokens, which will empower token holders with control over the league’s direction, and unlock a new level of engagement.

Revolutionizing Fan Engagement with Blockchain

A departure from traditional models, Karate Combat’s new DAO structure and $KARATE token will empower fans to influence the league’s operations. Through the app, users can vote on fighters, earn additional tokens with no risk of loss, and even boost their favorite fighters’ potential prize pools.

Karate Combat Co-Founder, Robert Bryan, shared his enthusiasm for the league’s strategic direction, praising the organization’s unique approach to sport content and fan engagement. He also acknowledged the importance of having the BITKRAFT Ventures investment team on board.

Carlos Pereira, Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures, emphasized the league’s commitment to transforming fan engagement by enabling direct relationships, aligning incentives, and offering influence over the league’s operations.

Karate Combat’s Vision for the Future

Karate Combat launched in 2018, offering a unique blend of full-contact karate with immersive, computer-generated environments. Its latest innovation, the Up Only Gaming App and $KARATE token, will be launched on the Ethereum and Hedera networks on May 10.

Despite recent setbacks, Karate Combat remains committed to its innovative approach to full-contact sports. “We definitely wanted to complete the fundraising process… Despite the company doing well financially, we wanted to ensure that we wouldn’t need more funding in the future,” said Bryan.

Expanding the Reach: The Karate Combat App

Following the token and iOS app’s launch, an Android app is set to be introduced. Users worldwide will be able to allocate $KARATE tokens to their favorite fighters, boosting the fighters’ potential prize pools and earning more tokens if their chosen fighter wins.

Karate Combat’s transformation has already attracted audiences from over 100 countries, with 4.5 million followers and more than 10 million views per event. The sport’s resurgence is attributed to the mainstream return of karate via the popular Netflix series “Cobra Kai”.

Karate Combat: Pioneering the Future of DAO Sports Leagues

Karate Combat’s recent conversion to a DAO signifies a significant shift in sports league governance. With $KARATE token holders having a say in the league’s direction, including future fights and events, Karate Combat is set to pioneer a new era of fan-driven sports leagues.

“This is the first crypto league,” Bryan said. “The fans have input into absolutely every part of the league… There’s no outside equity and no other places league assets are located—this is it—and that was all extremely attractive to us.”

By leveraging Web3 tools, Karate Combat is creating a unique space in the sports industry where fans are not just spectators, but active participants in the league’s growth and direction. With this approach, Karate Combat is truly setting a new standard for sports fan engagement.