Audi’s F1 Debut Fueled by Nexo in Landmark Crypto Partnership

HINWIL, SWITZERLAND – January 16, 2026 – In a significant move that underscores the deepening ties between the worlds of cryptocurrency and elite motorsport, the new Audi Revolut F1 Team has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Nexo. The agreement establishes the digital assets platform as the team's inaugural official digital asset partner, just as the German auto giant prepares for its highly anticipated entry into the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2026.

This partnership places Nexo, a platform with over $11 billion in assets under management, at the forefront of Audi’s ambitious F1 project. It represents a calculated fusion of high-performance engineering and next-generation finance, aiming to leverage Formula 1’s vast global audience to accelerate brand growth for both entities. The collaboration is set to launch a series of global activations, fan engagement initiatives, and immersive experiences as the team builds momentum toward its debut season.

A Strategic Alliance for a New Era

The partnership is framed by both organizations as a union of shared values centered on innovation, disciplined performance, and forward-thinking strategy. As Audi embarks on its first-ever F1 factory campaign, aligning with a prominent digital finance player signals a clear intent to build a modern, tech-savvy brand identity from the ground up.

“Today, we are proud to welcome Nexo as our official digital asset partner at a moment of strong growth for both organisations,” said Stefano Battiston, Chief Commercial Officer of Audi Revolut F1 Team. “The partnership reflects a shared ambition to scale with discipline and innovation, and to create tangible value — from exclusive experiences to new ways of engaging our global fanbase and Nexo’s clients.”

For Nexo, the alliance provides an unparalleled platform for global visibility. Formula 1's audience has seen explosive growth in recent years, particularly among younger, digitally native demographics that represent a core target market for crypto services. Associating with a prestigious and meticulously engineered brand like Audi offers a powerful narrative of stability and performance.

Antoni Trenchev, Co-founder of Nexo, highlighted this alignment, stating, “Partnering with Audi Revolut F1 Team at the start of their new era is a statement about how we see the future. As the team’s official digital asset partner, we will bring meaningful utility and premium experiences to a global audience, grounded in the same discipline and precision that defines success in motor sports.”

Crypto's Continued Drive into the F1 Paddock

The Nexo-Audi deal is the latest and one of the most significant examples of a broader trend that has seen digital asset companies pour substantial investment into Formula 1. The sport has become a premier marketing destination for the crypto industry, with sponsorships in 2025 reportedly totaling over $273 million. Industry analysts estimate the value of Nexo's multi-year commitment to be in the range of $30 million, a substantial investment aimed at boosting brand equity and user acquisition on a global scale.

This influx of capital from the digital finance sector is reshaping the sport's commercial landscape. Scuderia Ferrari boasts a partnership with crypto exchange BingX, while the BWT Alpine F1 Team counts trading platform eToro among its key partners. Even Audi's own team name, featuring a multi-year title sponsorship with financial technology firm Revolut, highlights the strategic importance of the fintech sector to F1's future. The motivation is clear: to tap into F1's rapidly expanding fanbase and leverage its high-tech, high-performance image to build credibility and mainstream acceptance.

Navigating Past Hurdles for a High-Performance Future

This high-profile partnership also marks a pivotal chapter for Nexo as it continues to solidify its position in the global market. The company has actively worked to move past previous regulatory challenges. In January 2023, Nexo reached a comprehensive $45 million settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and state regulators concerning its Earn Interest Product, which it had already ceased offering to U.S. clients the year prior.

Since then, the firm has focused on global expansion, including the acquisition of Argentinian crypto firm Buenbit to strengthen its foothold in Latin America and announcing plans to re-enter the U.S. market with a suite of compliant products. Aligning with Audi, a brand synonymous with German engineering, precision, and regulatory compliance, is a powerful strategic move to reinforce Nexo's messaging around security, stability, and long-term vision.

Audi's Ambitious Grand Prix Vision

Audi's entry into Formula 1 is far more than a simple marketing exercise; it is one of the most ambitious motorsport projects in the manufacturer's history. The endeavor involved a strategic acquisition of the historic Sauber Motorsport team and the establishment of a multi-national operation. The team’s hybrid power unit is being developed from the ground up at Audi's Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg, Germany, marking the first time in over a decade an F1 powertrain will be built in the country. Meanwhile, the chassis is engineered at the state-of-the-art facility in Hinwil, Switzerland, with a technology office in the UK's 'Motorsport Valley' securing access to top talent.

This entry is strategically timed to coincide with new 2026 F1 regulations that mandate an increase in electrical power to nearly 50% of the hybrid drive's output and the use of 100% sustainable fuels. This regulatory shift aligns perfectly with Audi's corporate 'Vorsprung durch Technik' philosophy and its broader strategic pivot toward electric mobility. With a driver lineup for the transition featuring veteran Nico Hülkenberg and rising star Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi has made its objective clear: to be competitive from the start and challenge for world championships within three years of its debut.

Redefining Fan Engagement with Digital Utility

Beyond the logos on the car and driver suits, the partnership promises to reshape the fan experience by integrating digital asset utility. Nexo and the Audi Revolut F1 Team plan to roll out a series of initiatives designed to offer tangible value. These include 'money-can't-buy' opportunities like exclusive access to the F1 paddock, co-created educational content on finance and engineering, and next-generation immersive brand experiences at Grand Prix weekends.

Nexo aims to demonstrate the real-world application of its core services—such as on-demand liquidity and advanced trading tools—by drawing parallels to the speed, agility, and data-driven precision required to succeed in Formula 1. This move reflects an evolution in sports sponsorship, shifting from passive brand exposure to active, integrated partnerships that create a deeper, more interactive connection with a global audience. As the 2026 season approaches, the success of this partnership will be measured not just in race wins, but in its ability to successfully merge the worlds of high-octane motorsport and next-generation digital finance.