AuthentifyIT, a new platform that empowers digital ownership and verification of physical objects and digital assets, announced today its exclusive collaboration with Gilbert, the world’s premier manufacturer of Rugby balls, and distribution partner Legends International, where the company will authenticate 150 replicas of the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Ball.
This collaboration between AuthentifyIT, Gilbert, and Legends preserves the authenticity of the Rugby World Cup 2023 (RWC 2023) Final Ball and also elevates fan engagement to unprecedented levels.
By creating a unique digital identity for each product, fans will enjoy a new immersive experience, changing the nature and economics of modern fandom. Purchasers of the limited edition memorabilia will have a unique ‘digital passport’-style record authenticating their purchase and the product’s provenance, and also have the ability to connect with other enthusiasts via a WhatsApp-like communication platform.
Bianca Lopes, Co-Founder of AuthentifyIT, emphasised the technological innovation signalled by this announcement: “Our technology will provide fans and communities with an unparalleled level of engagement by proving authenticity and ownership for these special commemorative balls. Identity is the path to belonging. Tokenizing the physical world around us allows us to open a new world of opportunity and connection.”
Designed and powered by AuthentifyIT, this digital identity solution aims to forge a deeper bond between brands and products. It recognises the emotional and future commercial value society attaches to physical items. AuthentifyIT leverages the synergy of blockchain (a decentralised, distributed and public digital ledger), tokenization, and IoT to revolutionise the digital world’s products, creating value in a manner that preserves privacy.
However, AuthentifyIT authenticates the moment as much as the object. This year’s Rugby World Cup has electrified fans with exhilarating performances such as South Africa’s shock victory over France – already being described as one of history’s best ever matches – and the Final looks set to be equally historic. Ownership of the limited edition Final Ball will immortalise this moment for fans, and thanks to AuthentifyIT its provenance and value will be impossible to question.
Capturing RWC 2023 will have special significance for collectors, as sports and other collectables are increasingly treated like fine art investments, with values increasing significantly over time. AuthentifyIT’s fraud-proof authentication technology provides a crucial level of security for collectors, preserving the financial value of memorabilia, as well as immortalising important moments in sports history.
AuthentifyIT introduces a paradigm shift in object provenance and authentication through cutting-edge blockchain, and IoT technology. By ensuring the origin and history of objects from inception to end-of-life, AuthentifyIT offers every physical purchase a digital twin that grants access to exclusive content, services, and offers, exclusively accessible through AuthentifyIT.
Fellow Co-Founder Olivier Viaud underlined the implications for collectibles and other markets: “In a world where 40% of collectibles turn out to be forgeries, the astounding absence of provenance and authenticity verification is nothing short of a global shocker.
“It boggles the mind that some of the world’s most prized collectibles are valued based on nothing more than a piece of paper. This reliance is not just risky; it’s a high-stakes gamble. That today people are prepared to take risks because there was no secure and safer alternative so it was trust the paper or don’t collect.
“Brace yourself for a game-changer, as the world awakens to the possibility of universally and permanently etching the history and lineage of physical objects. This is the seismic shift that will upend how we perceive and cherish collectibles.”
AuthentifyIT, which defines its mission as ‘redefining object identity, has ambitious plans to fundamentally change the way in which consumers relate to physical products, utilising blockchain technology to create an ‘Object Operating System’ for physical goods, ultimately transforming objects into physical assets through tokenization, which in turn creates further business opportunities. This application of blockchain technology is gaining momentum, with industry giants such as Blackrock (see here) and Amazon (here) pointing to tokenization as a potential major growth market in the coming years.
AuthentifyIT, Gilbert, and Legends International have set a new standard for digital authentication, ensuring fans can cherish and engage with their favourite memorabilia in a new, dynamic way.
