In the world of English soccer, it has become trendy to invest in lower division clubs, seeking a story of triumph and growth that could rival the popular series ‘Ted Lasso’. The latest individuals to join this trend are Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the famous twins known for accusing Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea for Facebook and for their success in the cryptocurrency industry.
The Winklevoss brothers have chosen Real Bedford FC as their team, a club that currently plays in the Division One Central of the Southern League, which is equivalent to the eighth tier of English football. After negotiations that began in April 2024, the deal has finally been completed, with the brothers acquiring 45% ownership of the club for a sum of 3.58 million pounds (approximately 4.3 million euros). Contrary to rumors, the investment will be made in legal tender rather than bitcoins.
Real Bedford FC has already attracted attention from other cryptocurrency enthusiasts, as it was previously purchased by Peter McCormack, a well-known cryptocurrency podcaster, in 2021. McCormack had expressed his goal of taking Bedford to the Premier League and even changed the team’s name and badge to reflect this ambition. The club is now known as “the pirates” and features a skull and two tibias on its badge. Prior to these investments, the team had an average attendance of only 40 fans.
Cameron Winklevoss explained their motivation for investing in Real Bedford FC, stating that they believe in the club’s ability to defy the odds and challenge established teams. The brothers have a soft spot for underdog stories, as they have the power to change the game. Real Bedford FC is also in negotiations for a merger with Bedford Town FC, a team that plays one division above them. The intention is to combine Real Bedford’s commercial success and global reach with Bedford Town’s rich history, loyal fans, and infrastructure. It’s worth noting that the Winklevoss twins’ investment is the largest in English football history for clubs outside the top two divisions.
Investments in small teams by cryptocurrency enthusiasts are not uncommon. Real Bedford FC’s main sponsors include 11 cryptocurrency-related companies, such as Gemini (owned by the Winklevoss brothers), Galaxy, Iren, Luxor, CoinCorner, Ledger, Wolf, Casa, BotanixLabs, Fold, and Plexus. The remaining two sponsors are a beer manufacturer called Brewpoint and a local Bedford refurbishment, plumbing, and electrical company named PJH. The club even accepts donations for its youth teams via Bitcoin.
The Winklevoss brothers are following in the footsteps of others who have invested in lower league English soccer. Rob McElhenney and actor Ryan Reynolds purchased Wrexham in 2021 and have already brought the club to League One, the third division in the British system. Former Manchester United players Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, and Paul Scholes did the same with Salford City, which now competes in League Two. The appeal of English soccer for investors, especially from a media perspective, is evident in these investments.
The Winklevoss twins gained fame through their legal battle with Mark Zuckerberg over the creation of Facebook. They met Zuckerberg at Harvard, shared their social networking projects, and claimed that he stole their idea and code. The lawsuit was settled in 2011, with the brothers choosing to stop pursuing further compensation. Outside of their legal battles, the Winklevoss twins have had fulfilling lives. They were successful rowers at Harvard and even competed as a pair in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, finishing in sixth place. They went on to found Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, and became billionaires through their ventures. Currently estimated to have a net worth of around 2.14 billion pounds, the Winklevoss twins have also shown support for Donald Trump in his presidential campaign.
