On October 2, 2024, Bank Pekao S.A., Poland's second-largest bank, announced the launch of Archiv3, a groundbreaking project aimed at tokenizing and preserving Polish cultural heritage using the Aleph Zero blockchain.

This initiative marks Bank Pekao as the first financial institution to tokenize artworks for long-term storage in the Arctic World Archive (AWA), also referred to as the 'Doomsday Library.'

The tokenized artworks will be securely archived in the AWA, which is designed to protect valuable information from natural disasters and cyber threats for at least 1,000 years.

The decision to use Aleph Zero was influenced by its speed, security, low carbon footprint, and carbon offset program, according to Michał Walęczak, the bank's Director of Private Banking Strategy and Development.

Archiv3 is notable for being the first initiative to tokenize historical art specifically for preservation, integrating blockchain technology into traditional banking.

The Arctic World Archive, located in Svalbard, was established in 2017 to safeguard invaluable cultural and historical information from various risks, ensuring data longevity.

Degen House, the technological partner for the project, facilitated the digitization of masterpieces from renowned Polish artists such as Jan Matejko and Stanisław Wyspiański using high-quality 3D scans.

The Archiv3 collection focuses on 19th-century artworks and contemporary pieces, aiming to preserve them for their cultural significance and future study.

These digital replicas are minted as NFTs on the eco-friendly Aleph Zero blockchain, which minimizes carbon footprint during the tokenization process.

Aleph Zero is recognized as a privacy-first blockchain ecosystem known for its speed and data confidentiality, making it an ideal choice for the Archiv3 project.

Bank Pekao serves 6.9 million customers and is noted for its strong financial position, being the most resilient bank in Europe according to 2023 EBA stress tests.

Founded in 1929, Bank Pekao is one of the largest financial institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, with significant assets and a leading market position.