FIFA is moving its official digital collectibles platform, FIFA Collect, away from the Algorand blockchain and onto a new Ethereum-compatible network—the FIFA Blockchain.
The transition is expected to begin on May 20 with FIFA citing improved compatibility, flexibility, and broader ecosystem support as reasons for the change. The new blockchain will support Ethereum-based wallets such as MetaMask, and will also bring changes to how payments and listings function within the platform.
FIFA says the majority of users will not need to take action, as most NFTs will transfer automatically to the new blockchain. However, those who have exported assets to external wallets must manually move them back into the platform ahead of the migration.
Why is FIFA moving away from Algorand?
FIFA initially partnered with Algorand in 2022, attracted by its environmentally friendly proof-of-stake model and low transaction fees. At the time, Algorand was positioned as a scalable and cost-effective blockchain for NFTs and decentralised applications.
However, FIFA now says that adopting an Ethereum-compatible network will allow greater interoperability with the wider blockchain ecosystem. By using a blockchain that supports the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), FIFA Collect will be compatible with popular crypto wallets and third-party tools.
The move is expected to simplify the user experience and enable more feature development in the future.
What to expect during migration?
For most users, the transition will be automatic as NFTs held within FIFA Collect’s custodial system—where users have not transferred assets to external wallets—will be migrated to the new blockchain without requiring any action. However, users who previously exported their NFTs to third-party Algorand wallets such as Pera or Defly must manually return them to FIFA Collect before the migration.
FIFA will reopen its import tool temporarily to facilitate this process. If users fail to act in time, they may still recover their assets by contacting customer support after the migration.
Whilst NFTs listed for resale will remain listed once the migration is complete. The process will involve up to 12 hours of platform downtime, with FIFA promising to share the exact timeline closer to the date.
Once the migration is complete, the FIFA Collect platform will no longer support Algorand wallets. Instead, users will need to connect using EVM-compatible wallets such as MetaMask or those supported through WalletConnect.
In addition to these changes, spending with USDC will also change. Users can continue to use their USDC balances up until the migration, but purchases using USDC will be paused afterward. Withdrawals will still be available.
The migration itself will be free of charge, and FIFA has confirmed there will be no gas fees or hidden costs associated with the move.
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