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Key Points:
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OceanPal Inc. invests $120 million in SovereignAI through a public equity deal.
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SovereignAI will use NEAR Protocol to build a privacy-preserving AI infrastructure.
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The project links traditional finance with blockchain innovation.
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OceanPal’s crypto treasury strategy includes acquiring up to 10% of the NEAR token supply.
Public equity deal to launch SovereignAI marks a strong step toward merging traditional finance with blockchain-driven AI innovation. OceanPal Inc., listed on Nasdaq, has invested $120 million to create SovereignAI, a company designed to bring NEAR Protocol and NVIDIA’s AI capabilities together.
SovereignAI’s mission is to develop privacy-preserving AI infrastructure, a system allowing artificial intelligence to function safely on decentralized networks. From my standpoint, this deal blends two powerful ideas: blockchain transparency and AI efficiency.
Building trust in AI through NEAR Protocol
NEAR Protocol, a layer-1 blockchain known for supporting decentralized applications, lies at the core of SovereignAI’s plan. The project aims to create a secure environment where AI agents can operate independently while managing assets across networks. This move signals a clear trend: companies are now turning to blockchain as a foundation for reliable AI systems.
OceanPal Inc. will act as a public vehicle for exposure to the NEAR token, giving investors indirect participation in NEAR’s growth. The company’s crypto treasury strategy involves acquiring up to 10% of NEAR’s total token supply, a bold approach to integrating digital assets into its balance sheet.
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Leadership with a clear vision
The deal also brings experienced leadership into focus. OceanPal appointed Sal Ternullo, a former State Street executive, as co-CEO. David Schwed, known for roles at BNY Mellon, Galaxy, and Robinhood, joined as chief operating officer. These leadership moves signal a serious push toward scaling both blockchain and AI operations.
Meanwhile, NEAR Foundation’s co-founder, Illia Polosukhin, will serve on the SovereignAI advisory board. His experience in AI and decentralized networks is expected to guide the company’s long-term roadmap. He will be joined by Richard Muirhead from Fabric Ventures and Lukasz Kaiser of OpenAI, giving the board a rare mix of blockchain and AI expertise.
AI agents meet blockchain economics
AI agents are digital systems that can act and make decisions independently. They need transparent, verifiable systems to function in financial markets. Blockchain provides this structure, allowing AI agents to handle value and verify transactions securely.
Industry figures have noticed the trend. John D’Agostino from Coinbase stated that cryptocurrency is vital for AI agents to participate effectively in financial ecosystems. Cloudflare also announced plans to launch NET Dollar, a stablecoin designed to power instant AI-driven transactions.
Recent data shows growing adoption. Coinbase’s AI-ready payments protocol saw over 10,000% growth in activity in one month, highlighting how fast this fusion is developing.
What SovereignAI means for the future of AI and finance
SovereignAI is more than a new tech venture. It stands as a blueprint for merging blockchain, AI, and finance in a single operational model. By leveraging NEAR Protocol, the company is betting that decentralized networks can provide both privacy and speed.
From my analysis, this public equity deal to launch SovereignAI marks a shift toward transparency and self-governing AI systems. As investors look for safer, data-respecting solutions, this combination of blockchain and artificial intelligence may become the preferred structure for enterprise-level AI development.
