July 8–11 saw the Armenian capital Yerevan take center stage in the crypto world, showcasing how physical collectibles, regulated payments and onchain finance can mesh.

Harmony Meetup 7 brought together partners, developers and industry leaders, including crypto exchange Fastex, to present a cohesive vision for building a more practical and tangible decentralized future.

In addition to Fastex leaders, the event included speakers from digital asset infrastructure company Fireblocks and digital security solutions provider Arculus. Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra also took part as an ambassador for fitness app YoHealth.

The agenda combined product reveals with broader talks on lending, custody and consumer adoption, positioning Fasttoken (FTN) as a cryptocurrency that spans retail, decentralized finance (DeFi) and collectibles.

Where onchain value gets a physical form

The headline of the event was the launch of FTN Notes, a series of collectible physical banknotes, each backed 1:1 by the FTN coin. A year in the making, the notes are designed with advanced anti-counterfeit measures like holograms and serial numbers, with their authenticity further guaranteed by verification company Authentix.

According to Fastex CEO Vakhtang Abrahamyan, the issuance is limited to just 10 million FTN — only 1% of the total supply — to ensure scarcity. “It’s not like the common notes that everybody would use in their daily life,” Abrahamyan explained. “It’s something that could be used as a present, a memorial or a collectible item.”

The Fastex CEO also hinted that demand is already outpacing supply: “Pre-order activity is so high that we’re thinking about how to manage the allocation so everyone has a chance to own at least one item.” 

Holders of the banknote can participate in airdrops and events and gain early access to new Fastex products.

Building the rails for real-world utility

On the DeFi side, Fasttoken program lead Pavel Aramyan identified “instability of interest rates” as one of the main challenges affecting DeFi lending at the moment. As a solution, Aramyan pointed to PercentMe, a decentralized borrowing and lending protocol on the Bahamut chain that offers stable-rate loans.

Built on Bahamut’s proof-of-stake-and-activity (PoSA) consensus, the protocol gives borrowers predictable repayment terms, allowing them to plan ahead with a clear view of their obligations.

 In an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph, Aramyan explained that PoSA adds an activity metric to traditional staking. Validators who deploy frequently used smart contracts accumulate activity points, which raise their probability of proposing blocks and increase staking yields.

Making this utility seamless is the upgraded Fastex Card, developed in collaboration with card technology provider Monavate. The new card is directly linked to the owner’s Fastex Exchange account, allowing them to spend crypto in real-time without needing to convert it to fiat beforehand.

 “The Fastex crypto card bridges the gap between digital assets and everyday spending, turning crypto into a practical currency for real life,” said Meri Mirijanyan, head of payments at Fastex. For VIP users, a premium metal card powered by Arculus features built-in cold wallet storage, secured with three-factor authentication.

From its foundational technology and real-world utility token to tangible products and robust partner network, Harmony Meetup 7 painted a holistic picture of an ecosystem focused on sustainable growth. By creating and showcasing these interconnected elements, Fastex demonstrated its commitment to moving beyond abstract concepts and delivering practical, tangible value.

Learn more about Fastex.

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