tZERO and /mkt Partner to Create Regulated Tokenized Athlete Investment Platform

The partnership between tZERO and /mkt represents a significant development in financial markets by creating the first regulated platform where retail investors can purchase tokenized securities backed by professional athletes' future earnings. This collaboration combines tZERO's regulated blockchain infrastructure with /mkt's athlete investment platform, enabling both accredited and non-accredited investors to participate in an asset class previously inaccessible to the general public. The global sports industry generates over $500 billion annually, yet individual athlete earnings have remained outside traditional investment opportunities until now.

Under the partnership, tZERO will provide /mkt with access to its regulated alternative trading system (ATS), blockchain-native custody and settlement infrastructure, and transfer agent services, supporting the full lifecycle of /mkt's tokenized athlete-linked securities. Primary distribution of /mkt's Regulation A+ offerings will be conducted through Forwardslash Financial LLC, /mkt's broker-dealer subsidiary, currently pending FINRA membership approval. The collaboration advances an innovative asset class that allows everyday investors to participate in the economic upside of professional athletes' careers through SEC-qualified securities offered under Regulation A+ (Tier 2).

The tokenized structure has the potential to deliver benefits that traditional securities cannot: blockchain-based settlement for speed and transparency, fractional ownership for broad accessibility, and the potential for 24/7 secondary market trading on tZERO's ATS. Current hours include 12:05 am to 11:35 pm ET on days the ATS is open for business. This brings the athlete investment experience in line with how modern investors expect markets to function. The partnership scope includes broker-dealer services through tZERO Securities, LLC, a SEC-registered broker-dealer and FINRA member, with secondary market trading on tZERO's regulated ATS, one of the leading digital securities ATSs in the United States.

Spencer Gareiss, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer of Blockchain Market, Inc., stated that this partnership with tZERO is the infrastructure backbone that makes /mkt possible. Athletes are some of the most valuable brands in the world, yet until now there has been no regulated, accessible way for fans and investors to share in that upside. Alan Konevsky, Chief Executive Officer of tZERO Group, Inc., emphasized that the next phase of tokenization is about expanding what can become investable within a regulated framework. Sports is a critical investment category and one that's been largely unseen outside of the betting markets.

/mkt expects to launch its first athlete-linked securities offerings in 2026, with secondary market trading on tZERO's ATS to follow. The company is currently in the process of preparing and filing its offering statement on Form 1-A with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Regulation A+ (Tier 2). No offering has been qualified and no securities are currently available for purchase. This development matters because it democratizes access to athlete economics while operating within established regulatory frameworks, potentially transforming how fans engage with sports and how athletes can monetize their careers beyond traditional endorsement deals.