Cryptocurrency
ARCHIV3: Poland’s Second-Largest Bank Chooses Aleph Zero to Tokenize Historical Art

[PRESS RELEASE – Zug, Switzerland, October 2nd, 2024]
Poland’s second-largest bank, Pekao S.A., used the Aleph Zero L1 blockchain to tokenize and preserve internationally renowned Polish artworks.
Bank Pekao, Aleph Zero, and Degen House are proud to announce the launch of Archiv3, a project to tokenize and preserve Polish cultural heritage on the Aleph Zero blockchain, with digital reproductions securely stored in the Arctic World Archive (AWA). This initiative combines blockchain technology with a commitment to cultural preservation, ensuring the safekeeping of Poland’s artistic legacy for future generations.
With Archiv3, Bank Pekao becomes the first universal bank to tokenize historical art specifically for preservation purposes. This initiative follows the bank’s earlier “Unique” project, marking its role in integrating blockchain technology with traditional banking. It also highlights the bank’s ongoing commitment to modernizing its services and expanding the reach of digital assets. Notably, Archiv3 is the first project to tokenize artworks for long-term storage in the Arctic World Archive, known as the “Doomsday Library.” In its press release, Bank Pekao pointed out that the deciding factor in using the Aleph Zero blockchain has been not only its speed and security but also its attention to optimizing for a low carbon footprint and its carbon offset program.
“We have chosen Aleph Zero for their privacy-focused, top-class technology combined with sound experience in cooperation with large institutions,” says Michał Walęczak, Director of the Private Banking Strategy and Development Department at Bank Pekao S.A. “Minimal carbon footprint as well as low storage costs were also important factors in our decision-making process. Tokenization of art requires modern and flexible technology, unforced creativity and some out-of-the-box thinking; these features we were happy to find in co-operation with Aleph Zero.”
ARCHIV3 involves the meticulous digitization of masterpieces from iconic Polish artists, such as Jan Matejko, Stanisław Wyspiański, Wojciech Kossak, and others, facilitated by Degen House, the bank’s technological partner, who also managed the Aleph Zero integration. The process began with the creation of high-quality, museum-grade 3D scans using ultra-sensitive cameras, which capture every detail of the original artworks. These digital replicas were then minted as NFTs on the eco-friendly Aleph Zero blockchain, which ensures minimal carbon footprint during the process. The tokenized versions are subsequently archived in the Arctic World Archive, where they are expected to remain secure for at least 1,000 years.
The artworks in the Archiv3 collection span a range of historical periods, primarily featuring 19th-century works and select modern pieces, such as those by contemporary artist Lia Kimura. This initiative aims to preserve these treasures not only for their cultural and historical significance but also as a resource for future study, conservation, and potential virtual exhibitions.
Preserving Art for Future Generations
The Arctic World Archive, located on the remote Svalbard archipelago, serves as a highly secure data vault designed to protect invaluable cultural, historical, and scientific information from natural disasters, cyber threats, and other risks. Established in 2017, the archive uses advanced storage technology to ensure data longevity without the need for electricity or human intervention, making it one of the safest places in the world for preserving irreplaceable records.
The AWA already houses manuscripts from the Vatican Library, documentation from UNESCO and UNICEF, the entire GitHub code repository, as well as literary works by Nobel Prize laureates Olga Tokarczuk and Wisława Szymborska. Bank Pekao is the first financial institution to archive culturally significant artworks at the AWA, while doing the same using decentralized storage, setting a precedent for how blockchain technology can be used to bridge traditional art with new digital solutions.
For any enquiries about this release, please contact josh@serotonin.co
About Aleph Zero
Aleph Zero is a privacy-first ecosystem of blockchain solutions that are engineered for speed, data confidentiality, and ease of development. It achieves efficiencies akin to conventional web2 systems, upholds rigorous standards for data protection via zero knowledge proofs, and offers a comprehensive toolset for development across web3 that ranges from WASM-based Rust to EVM-based Solidity environments. Aleph Zero’s versatility is highlighted by over 40 use cases being actively developed, showcasing its adaptability across various sectors and applications. These use cases are part of an engaged community and growing ecosystem of web3 applications that are supported by Aleph Zero ecosystem development programs.
For more information, users can visit https://alephzero.org/
About Bank Pekao S.A.
Bank Pekao S.A., founded in 1929, is one of the largest financial institutions in the Central and Eastern European region and the second-largest universal bank in Poland with assets of 316 billion PLN. With the second largest branch network, Bank Pekao serves 6.9 million customers. As a leading corporate bank in Poland, it serves every second corporation in Poland. Its status as a universal bank is based on its leading market position in private banking, asset management, and brokerage activities. Bank Pekao’s diversified business profile is supported by a leading market balance sheet and risk profile reflected in the lowest risk costs, strong capital ratios, and resilience to macroeconomic conditions (Pekao proved to be the most resilient bank in Europe, ranking first in the stress tests conducted by the EBA in 2023 amongst 70 banks). Since 1998, Bank Pekao has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and participates in several local (including WIG 20 and WIG) and international indices (including MSCI EM, Stoxx Europe 600, and FTSE Developed). Pekao is one of the most dividend-paying listed companies in Poland over the past 10 years, paying out a total of approx. 20 billion PLN over a decade.
About Degen House
Degen House is a full-stack blockchain solutions provider with a proven track record of collaborations spanning major CEE banks and top global blockchain ecosystems. The company offers comprehensive end-to-end solutions, from strategic consulting and product development to targeted marketing and sales.
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Cryptocurrency
The Open Platform is the first unicorn in Web3 ecosystem in Telegram at $1bn valuation

[PRESS RELEASE – Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 3rd, 2025]
The Open Platform raises $28.5M in Series A equity funding round, showcasing investor confidence in TON’s ecosystem
- The equity round was led by Ribbit Capital, a leading fintech and crypto investor, with Pantera Capital also participating.
- The investment underscores strong confidence in The Open Platform’s continued development of the blockchain ecosystem in Telegram, being built on TON.
- The involvement of prominent investors and the raised capital will support the launch of TOP’s portfolio companies across the U.S., EU, and other key regions.
The Open Platform, the leading tech company developing TON-based innovations in Telegram, has announced the completion of its Series A and subsequent extension funding rounds, reaching a $1 billion valuation and becoming the first unicorn in the TON-based ecosystem in Telegram.
The Open Platform raised $28.5 million in an extended Series A funding round, led by Ribbit Capital, with Pantera Capital also participating. Including this latest raise and previous seed investments, The Open Platform has now secured over $70 million in total funding. These investments demonstrate the confidence that leading investors have in The Open Platform’s ability to spearhead the growth of the blockchain ecosystem in Telegram. This ecosystem is being built on TON Blockchain – a fully decentralized and highly scalable blockchain that is the exclusive blockchain partner of Telegram Messenger.
The current strategic focus of The Open Platform centers on geographical expansion. The involvement of prominent investors, along with the newly raised capital, will support the launch of TOP’s portfolio companies across the U.S., EU, and other key regions — in alignment with TON Foundation’s global vision. This expansion will involve significant investment in go-to-market strategies, regulatory licensing, compliance infrastructure, and security enhancements, all aimed at ensuring sustainable growth and long-term success in these new jurisdictions.
Andrew Rogozov, CEO and Founder of The Open Platform, said, “This investment supports our long-term strategy to scale the adoption of blockchain-based products by leveraging the power of Telegram as a distribution channel. By combining TON Blockchain with Telegram’s global reach, we’re building both the infrastructure and the consumer-facing apps needed to onboard a billion users to crypto.”
The Open Platform is driving the growth of the TON-based ecosystem within Telegram, building both core infrastructure and consumer-facing apps across finance, gaming, and entertainment. Products that The Open Platform has powered include Wallet in Telegram, a digital asset solution seamlessly embedded into Telegram’s interface; Tonkeeper, TON’s leading non-custodial crypto wallet; STON.fi, the leading swap dApp on TON and the developer of a liquidity aggregation protocol, Omniston; Getgems, TON’s foremost NFT marketplace; Tribute, a monetization platform for creators in Telegram; and Notcoin, a viral Tap-to-Earn game, along with many more products.
By integrating blockchain technology into everyday digital experience, The Open Platform is creating a seamless, scalable platform designed for a billion users, accelerating the mainstream adoption of crypto — expanding global access to financial services, and enabling a new generation of builders and developers to build the next wave of consumer dApps.
This latest investment from Ribbit Capital, which has previously provided early-stage investment to Coinbase, Nubank, and Revolut, amongst many others, and Pantera Capital, is a testament to the potential these investors see in the integration of blockchain technology into a messenger application with over a billion users.
Micky Malka, Founder of Ribbit Capital, said, “We back teams that reimagine how the world experiences money and technology. The Open Platform’s vision of building an intuitive and open platform that enables a robust digital ecosystem to form within Telegram — a platform used by hundreds of millions — opens a new frontier of opportunities for builders and users on a global scale.”
“We’re thrilled to back this exceptional team led by Andrew. The opportunity to support groundbreaking tech and financial products that reach 1 billion people is inspiring,” said Ryan Barney, Partner at Pantera Capital. ”We’re excited to collaborate with the TOP team and strengthen our commitment to TON and Telegram’s ecosystems.”
TON Blockchain has been the subject of increased institutional interest throughout this year. In March, TON Foundation announced that several leading investors, including Sequoia Capital, Ribbit Capital, Benchmark, Draper Associates, Kingsway, Vy Capital, Libertus Capital, CoinFund, SkyBridge, Hypersphere, and Karatage, have acquired and now hold $400 million worth of Toncoin, signaling growing interest in the TON-based ecosystem in Telegram.
About The Open Platform:
The Open Platform (TOP) is the leading tech company developing Web3 innovations in Telegram. TOP is fueling the Telegram economy through both foundational infrastructure and consumer-facing apps. By integrating blockchain technology into day-to-day digital experience, TOP is building a seamless, scalable platform designed for a billion users — accelerating the mass adoption of crypto.
For more information, users can visit: top.co
Stay connected on: LinkedIn | X | Telegram
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Cryptocurrency
Ripple (XRP) Price Predictions, Recent Binance Changes, and More: Bits Recap July 4th

TL;DR
Analysts remain bullish on XRP, with some eyeing a move to $2.65 or even $3, while others dream of a historic surge to $30.
Binance added NEWT and SAHARA to its VIP Loan program, removed several trading pairs (impacting FIO the most), and launched new staking options for SOL-related tokens.
After closing Q2 at a record $107,500, BTC hovers near $109K; while some foresee a rally toward $120K, Arthur Hayes warns of a short-term drop to $90K due to US liquidity shifts – though he stays bullish long term.
XRP Forecasts
Despite its daily decline of around 2.5%, the XRP price is up 6% on a weekly scale and remains the subject of bullish predictions.
Just a few days ago, the X user World of Charts argued that an XRP breakout and retest has already been confirmed, anticipating a pump above $3 sometime in July.
For their part, Maxi thinks the token could mirror its impressive performance from the end of 2017 and experience a 1,200% rise in a matter of days. A jump of that type would push the price to a new historic peak of around $30, which, as of the moment, seems quite unlikely.
Other popular analysts who made more realistic forecasts include Ali Martinez and Crypto Beast. The former claimed XRP could be forming an inverse head and shoulders pattern, “potentially setting the stage for a 15% breakout to $2.65.” Crypto Beast expects the price to make a 3x during the ongoing bull run.
What’s New Around Binance?
The world’s largest crypto exchange recently added Newton Protocol (NEWT) and Sahara AI (SAHARA) as new loanable assets on its VIP Loan program. Despite the support, the tokens witnessed substantial price corrections.
Additionally, Binance scrapped the following spot trading pairs: ACT/EUR, FIO/BTC, TNSR/FDUSD, and TST/FDUS. Such actions usually have a negative effect on the involved coins due to reduced liquidity, less visibility, and reputational blow. FIO took the biggest blow, plunging by 8% after the announcement.
Earlier today (July 4), Binance came up with another disclosure. It informed its users that they can stake their SOL, HODL BNSOL, sBNSOL, or bzSOL holdings and earn up to 6.5% APR, with boosted LAYER, ACE, and DYM airdrops distributed automatically.
“But that’s not all, something new is launching soon,” the exchange teased.
How’s BTC Doing?
Last but not least, we will delve into the leading cryptocurrency and explore some interesting price forecasts. Bitcoin (BTC) made history in May, reaching a new all-time high of almost $112,000. In the weeks that followed, it saw a slight pullback but still closed Q2 at around $107,500 – the highest quarterly finish in its history.
The crypto community remains quite bullish that the asset, currently trading just south of $109,000, could be on the verge of a rally toward a fresh peak. X user CRYPTOWZRD thinks a breakout above $110,500 could push the price to $120,000.
On the other hand, Arthur Hayes (co-founder of BitMEX) predicted a short-term pullback to $90,000 due to a potential liquidity drain from the US Treasury issuing new debt following Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.“ However, he remains a bull for the long term, viewing the possible pullback as just a temporary event.
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Cryptocurrency
Crypto Price Analysis July-04: ETH, XRP, ADA, SOL, and HYPE

This Friday, we examine Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Solana, and Hyperliquid in greater detail.
Ethereum (ETH)
ETH closed the week with a 4% price increase and is currently sitting comfortably above $2,500. This is impressive considering that only two weeks ago it was at $2,100.
With buyers returning, optimism is increasing across the market which may finally allow it to test and break the resistance at $2,800. As long as the price is above $2,500, bulls have the advantage and higher price levels are likely.
Looking ahead, ETH shows a clear bullish bias across momentum indicators such as the MACD and RSI which are making higher lows. The only missing piece to make a breakout possible is buy volume which still lags behind and has not made higher highs yet.
Ripple (XRP)
Bulls had a good week and tested the resistance at $2.3 again. While they did not have the strength to break this level yet, the price still managed to increase by 6%.
With clear higher highs and lows, XRP is found in an uptrend which may eventually break the key resistance. If successful, the buyers may aim to initiate a rally towards $2.6 next, which is a key target as soon as $2.3 falls.
This long consolidation above $2 indicates that this cryptocurrency may experience a sharp increase in volatility as soon as it leaves its current range. The bias is bullish and a quick rally to $2.6 and beyond is likely if buy volume explodes later.
Cardano (ADA)
After a difficult period in June, ADA appears to have finally found a local bottom above 50 cents. Most recently, the price made a higher high and managed to close the week with a 5% increase. This is encouraging and may allow it to reverse its downtrend.
With buyers in control, theh altcoin has a good chance to test the resistance at 64 cents which used to act as a key support in the past. To turn the bias bullish, ADA will have to move its price above $0.64.
This cryptocurrency has a difficult road ahead since it has been making lower lows for over six months. To reverse this, buy volume has to increase significantly. A first step towards that is to reclaim $0.64.
Solana (SOL)
Solana managed to return above $150 which is a key psychological level. This allowed the price to close the week 6% higher. While this is encouraging, buyers have to keep the price above this level if they want to maintain control.
Considering the recent rally, the price action may be forming an inverted head and shoulders reversal pattern on the daily timeframe. However, to confirm it, SOL has to move above $170 and secure a higher high.
Moreover, the volume has to increase since it has been flat for months. Right now, the momentum indicators are bullish, but without increasing volume it will be hard for buyers to push this cryptocurrency higher. As long as $150 holds, bulls still have the upper hand.
Hype (HYPE)
HYPE had a good week and increased by 5%. However, the price action shows buyers are becoming exhausted. Every time it tried to reclaim and stay above $40, sellers returned to push it lower.
With weakening momentum and volume, HYPE appears to struggle right now and is not able to make higher highs. On the contrary, if the price cannot move above $40, sellers will have an opening to push it lower.
Looking ahead, HYPE could be establishing a complex local top formation that may prolong its current correction after its most recent ATH at $46. Based on this, it is unlikely for this cryptocurrency to make new price records any time soon.
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Disclaimer: Information found on CryptoPotato is those of writers quoted. It does not represent the opinions of CryptoPotato on whether to buy, sell, or hold any investments. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use provided information at your own risk. See Disclaimer for more information.
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