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Eisgenoss, an ice hockey-focused Swiss company, claims that its Fan-Puck is revolutionizing the fan experience. This digital hockey puck is embedded with a microchip and promises exclusive benefits for its owner. However, with the highest priced puck selling for a staggering $300,000, one must ask: are these experiences truly worth the hefty price tag?

The Fan-Puck : Is it Overpriced for Fan Engagement?

Launched ahead of the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland, the Fan-Puck merges physical and digital value, marketed under the buzzword " phygital ." Available in three limited editions--gold, silver, and traditional rubber--each puck contains a chip that provides access to exclusive privileges like early match tickets, VIP entries, meet-and-greets with hockey stars, and exclusive multimedia content. But at what price?

Editions and Pricing:

• Original (Rubber): 300 CHF

















• Silver: 3300 CHF

















• Gold: 300 000 CHF

Are These Pucks a Marketing Stunt?

The creation of the Fan-Puck involved the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation (SIHF), gold merchant Philoro, and Web 3.0 specialist Vivents. While this collaboration might seem impressive, the real concern lies in the true value these pucks offer. It appears that the concept of attaching a digital NFT onto a hockey stick and then selling it at exorbitant rates is more of a marketing trick, if not a scam. The puck has a minimal intrinsic value. This raises the question whether this is an innovation or a ploy to fleece hockey fans.

Is the Gold Edition Worth it?

The "Gold Eisgenoss" collectible, made of 2.29 kilograms of pure gold, is priced at 300,000 CHF. Considering the current gold rate, this puck's real value is about $175,099.15. Eisgenoss will pocket a profit of approximately $154,752.42 for each puck. Does the added phygital content of this puck justify such a huge markup? Absolute no. The price is too high for the features promised.

Collectible or Exploitative?

Silver and rubber versions of the Fan-Puck also have outrageous prices.

• Silver edition: 3300 CHF per kilogram of silver which is approximately $956. This results in a profit of around $2,672.77 for Eisgenoss, questioning the justification of such a high price for some digital perks.

















• Rubber Edition: 300 CHF for a basic rubber puck that only provides pre-sale ticket access. Charging this amount for minimal digital benefits seems exploitative.

Transparency, Value and Quality are Questionable

Eisgenoss says that a portion from the proceeds of sales will be used to support the development and training of young Swiss hockey players. The lack of transparency about the exact percentage, however, raises questions. The "a portion" could range from 10% to less that 1%. This further adds to the skepticism.

Promises vs. Reality

Fan-Puck claims exclusive benefits but they are not clear.

• Access to Pre-Sale Tickets: Only provides access to tickets for pre-sale, but not the actual tickets.

















• VIP Experiences: Vague promises of exclusive VIP entries and behind-the-scenes tours.

















• Meet and Greets: Chances to meet hockey players, but without concrete details.

















• Signed merchandise: Access autographed items at a cost.

















• Multimedia Content: Exclusive content, but unclear if it's truly exclusive or just early access.

















• Fan voting: Participation is important, but what impact does it have?

The ambiguity and potential additional costs associated with these features make the investment in a Fan-Puck highly questionable.

The conclusion of the article is:

Eisgenoss and Vivents' current implementation of phygital technologies is more about exploiting the fans than delivering real value. The exorbitant prices for these pucks, combined with vague promises and a lack of transparency, suggest that this is more of a marketing ploy than a real innovation. Overpriced collectibles that offer questionable benefits are not what fans deserve.

This critique was inspired by an article from ZATAP, a leader in the phygital technology sector.