Poland’s Pekao Bank using blockchain to preserve art in arctic vault

As a seasoned analyst with a background steeped in both traditional banking and emerging technologies, I find this move by Bank Pekao to be a commendable step forward. Preserving cultural heritage through blockchain technology is not only innovative but also crucial for ensuring the longevity of our shared history.


In simpler terms, Bank Pekao, Poland’s second-largest financial institution, is employing blockchain technology to safeguard and conserve the nation’s cultural legacy.

As stated in a press release by Pekao, the bank has joined forces with Aleph Zero to initiate Archiv3, an undertaking dedicated to digitizing and safely preserving Polish artworks as tokens for future eras.

Transforming tangible items such as artwork into digitally represented tokens on a blockchain is known as tokenization. This process simplifies storage and tracking of these assets.

In the scope of this endeavor, Bank Pekao is employing cutting-edge 3D scanning tech to convert renowned Polish artworks, such as those by Jan Matejko and Stanisław Wyspiański, into digital format. Subsequently, these digital reproductions are saved as unique non-fungible tokens on the environmentally-conscious Aleph Zero blockchain, thereby ensuring their longevity.

Arctic World Archive

The digital artwork you’ve tokenized will additionally be safeguarded in the Arctic World Archive (AWA), a protective data storage facility located in Svalbard, Norway. This archive is famed for shielding critical information from dangers such as cyberattacks and natural calamities. As per an announcement by Archiv3, it has been used to store cultural and scientific data from esteemed organizations like UNESCO and the Vatican.

The bank aims to secure and preserve the artworks for future generations by adopting a distributed database system, ensuring their safety and accessibility, even during worldwide disasters.

This endeavor showcases a wider movement towards blending conventional banking practices with contemporary innovations such as blockchain technology, thereby paving the way for more opportunities in managing digital assets.

Previously, on October 2nd, Christie’s unveiled their intention to employ blockchain technology to generate digital ownership certificates for artwork bought at auction.

Read More

Sorry. No data so far.

2024-10-02 22:24