OceanPal Strives to Empower Large-Scale User-Controlled AI Through Blockchain-Based Infrastructure
- OceanPal completes $120M PIPE to launch SovereignAI, a blockchain-native AI subsidiary collaborating with NEAR Foundation. - SovereignAI aims to commercialize NEAR Protocol by accumulating 10% of its tokens and building NVIDIA-powered AI infrastructure. - Crypto-native investors and industry leaders back the initiative, emphasizing NEAR's potential for privacy-first AI infrastructure. - OceanPal maintains shipping operations while diversifying into AI sovereignty, leveraging NEAR's chain abstraction for
OceanPal Inc. (NASDAQ: OP), an international shipping firm, has finalized a $120 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) to establish SovereignAI Services LLC—a fully owned subsidiary dedicated to developing blockchain-based AI infrastructure in partnership with the NEAR Foundation. This funding, announced in a press statement
SovereignAI's main mission is to bring to market the
The NEAR Protocol’s emphasis on agentic AI and chain abstraction meets the rising institutional need for privacy-centric, regulation-friendly solutions in industries such as finance, healthcare, and media. Sal Ternullo, who was recently named Co-CEO of OceanPal, stated that NEAR presents "the most significant asymmetric potential among established digital asset projects," with the intention of making SovereignAI a top public investment platform for NEAR tokens and its ecosystem, according to a
The deal drew interest from crypto-focused investors like Kraken, Proximity, Fabric Ventures, and G20 Group, as well as strategic advisors including Clear Street LLC and Cohen & Company Capital Markets. The advisory board for SovereignAI, led by NEAR Foundation CEO Illia Polosukhin, features industry leaders such as Lukasz Kaiser from OpenAI and Jackie Kennedy from Quicknode, highlighting the initiative’s commitment to advancing AI and blockchain, as referenced in the Morningstar release.
David Schwed, OceanPal’s COO, expressed the company’s goal to "create the infrastructure that enables large-scale, user-controlled, privacy-focused AI." He pointed out that NEAR’s framework delivers "the trust, security, and economic incentives needed to achieve genuine AI sovereignty," a vision shared with the NEAR Foundation, as reported by The Block.
Although
SovereignAI’s approach goes beyond simply holding tokens, utilizing returns from its assets to finance infrastructure initiatives. This strategy, together with NEAR’s AI-oriented technology stack, is designed to support autonomous agent commerce—where AI agents act as independent economic participants capable of conducting transactions and managing assets, as mentioned in the Morningstar release.
This development mirrors a wider trend of institutional interest in automation and scalable AI infrastructure, with ongoing support from both traditional financial institutions and crypto-native investors. As OceanPal undertakes this transformation, its dual commitment to shipping and AI sovereignty places it at the crossroads of two rapidly evolving industries.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Institutions Develop Blockchain Foundations, Signaling the Advancement of the Crypto Industry
- Institutional crypto adoption accelerates as venture funding, ETFs, and strategic acquisitions drive market maturation, per Cosmos Labs CEO Magnus Mareneck. - Coinbase's $375M Echo acquisition and BlackRock's $137.5M Ethereum/Bitcoin ETF inflows highlight infrastructure-building over speculation. - Cosmos emphasizes interoperability to support DeFi and tokenization, with partnerships enabling programmable banking and real-time settlements. - Mareneck warns of valuation risks (e.g., SEALSQ's 10.1x P/B rat

Solana News Update: Solana ETF Climbs While Token Declines: Institutional Demand Contrasts with Retail Outlook
- Bitwise's Solana Staking ETF (BSOL) raised $222.8M in assets on its 2025 debut, outpacing most new ETFs with $56M in first-day trading volume. - The fund offers direct Solana exposure with staking rewards, attracting institutional interest through a novel structure distinct from traditional spot ETFs. - SEC guidance on PoS and liquid staking enabled BSOL's launch, with Bitwise leveraging its European staking product experience to enter the U.S. market. - Despite BSOL's success, Solana's token price fell

Bitcoin Updates: The Crypto Market’s Psychological Maze Encounters AI’s Strategic Pathway Out
- Token Metrics AI Indices combat crypto volatility by using analytics to address psychological biases like FOMO and panic selling. - Bitcoin near $115,000 faces 2025-2026 price forecasts up to $500,000, driven by Fed rate cuts and U.S.-China cooperation boosting liquidity. - AI tools project $177,000–$427,000 BTC ranges based on market cap scenarios, while prioritizing risk mitigation through diversification and real-time monitoring. - Dynamic AI strategies balance growth and downside protection, using me

OceanPal’s Shift to AI and Blockchain Triggers 22.5% Drop in Share Price
- OceanPal Inc. pivoted to AI via a $120M investment in NEAR Protocol, launching SovereignAI to commercialize blockchain-based AI infrastructure. - The strategy targets 10% NEAR token ownership and leverages NVIDIA tech for confidential AI-cloud solutions, aligning with institutional interest in privacy-focused AI. - Despite continued shipping operations, OceanPal reported a $10.4M net loss and saw its stock drop 22.5% post-announcement, reflecting market skepticism about the strategic shift. - Backed by c
