Xapo Bank, a pioneering private bank unlocking wealth growth opportunities in the Bitcoin era, has become an Official Partner of Aston Villa Football Club. This collaboration unites one of the Premier League’s most dynamic clubs with a Bitcoin-first financial institution that is redefining how people grow and protect their wealth in the digital age. It also marks a key milestone in Xapo’s growth strategy in the UK and beyond — expanding its reach to Aston Villa’s global fan base of 358 million people.
Xapo is one of the world’s oldest Bitcoin custodians, established in 2013 and renowned for its legacy as the ‘Fort Knox of Bitcoin’ for leveraging Swiss nuclear bunkers and advanced cryptography to protect members’ assets. It was one of the first institutions in the sector globally to be awarded a banking licence, which it passported into the UK in August 2024. Today, members can build, protect, and transact with their Bitcoin seamlessly through a fully licensed and regulated banking and crypto framework. Xapo offers its members an interest-bearing Bitcoin account, along with a suite of secure financial products designed to help members protect and use their digital wealth, while benefiting from Bitcoin’s long-term trajectory.
This collaboration arrives at a time of heightened interest in Bitcoin, particularly among investors seeking diversification and long-term value. With Aston Villa’s broadcast reach spanning over 253 million viewers worldwide, and the Premier League’s audience exceeding that of La Liga and the Bundesliga combined, this partnership positions Xapo Bank to engage a truly global audience.
As part of the agreement, Xapo Bank will serve as the Official Pre-Season Tour Partner, which includes Aston Villa’s 2025 tour of the United States. The club’s pre-season begins in the UK on July 16, with the US leg kicking off on July 26 against Eintracht Frankfurt in Louisville. The partnership then extends into the 2025/2026 Premier League season, the most-watched football league in the world and includes prominent in-stadium branding on match days, including pitchside LED boards and dugout headrests.
Seamus Rocca, CEO of Xapo Bank, said:
“Aston Villa is a club on the rise; ambitious and unafraid to challenge the status quo. And that is the same mentality we have here at Xapo. Like Villa, we’re not chasing fleeting headlines. We see Bitcoin as grounded in undeniable performance, built for the future. We’re focused on playing the long game and building something that lasts. Together, we’re bringing the promise of Bitcoin to a global stage, one fan at a time.”
Adrian Filby, Chief Commercial Officer of Aston Villa, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Xapo, an organisation whose vision for success aligns with Aston Villa’s long-term strategic thinking. They are at the leading edge of Bitcoin, and we look forward to enjoying a close and fruitful relationship where both parties can benefit from growth and exposure.”
This partnership paves the way for more high-impact activations across the UK and builds on Xapo Bank’s ‘Security Matters’ campaign, a bold out-of-home takeover of London’s Bank Station in November 2024. By collaborating with Aston Villa, Xapo Bank gains a powerful platform to connect with a growing, loyal fan base and elevate visibility in key financial markets worldwide.