INTL · 2020
United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA)
The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) is the postal administration of the United Nations. It issues stamps on behalf of the UN from three locations: New York (USA, in USD), Geneva (Switzerland, in CHF), and Vienna (Austria, in EUR). UNPA was founded in 1951 and is part of the Department of Operational Support. The first UN Crypto Stamps were launched on 24 November 2020, following Austria (June 2019) and Croatia (September 2020). The stamps use the Ethereum blockchain and were developed with the UN Office of Information and Communications Technology. Designer: Sergio Baradat (UNPA). Printer: Royal Joh Enschedé (Netherlands). Activation uses a scratch-off area with secret code. Platform: crypto.unstamps.org. Two series have been released (2020, 2022), with Series III planned for 2025/2026.
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- Founded
- 1951
- First crypto stamp
- 2020-11-24
- Country
- INTL
- Blockchains
- ethereum
- Official website
- unstamps.org
- Crypto stamp platform
- crypto.unstamps.org
UNPA in the Crypto Stamp Ecosystem
The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) is a structurally unique position in the crypto stamp space:
- Not a national postal administration, but international organization postal administration
- Three locations with three currencies: New York (USD), Geneva (CHF), Vienna (EUR)
- Pioneer position #3 worldwide (after AT 13.06.2019 and HR 09.09.2020)
- First UN blockchain application ever
- Ethereum mainnet instead of Polygon Layer-2 (structurally rare)
Programme Characteristics
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Launch date | 24 November 2020 |
| Programme status | Active (Series III expected) |
| Edition count | 2 series (2020, 2022) |
| Locations | New York, Geneva, Vienna |
| Currencies | USD, CHF, EUR (parallel) |
| Tech platform | Ethereum mainnet |
| Printer | Royal Joh Enschedé (NL) |
| Designer | Sergio Baradat (UNPA) |
| Activation | Scratch-off code |
| Platform | crypto.unstamps.org |
| Tech partner | UN Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) |
| Strategic framework | "Strategy on New Technologies for the United Nations" (12/2018) |
Three-Location Architecture
UNPA has operated since 1951 from three locations, each with independent stamp issuance:
| Location | Country | Currency | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | USA | USD | UN Headquarters |
| Geneva | Switzerland | CHF | Palais des Nations |
| Vienna | Austria | EUR | Vienna International Centre |
Crypto stamp implication: Every UN crypto stamp edition is issued in parallel in all three currencies — with identical design but different face values. A collector set of an edition thus consists of three stamps (USD + CHF + EUR).
Pioneer Position
| # | Issuer | First crypto stamp |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AT (Variuscard) | 13.06.2019 |
| 2 | HR (Hrvatska Pošta) | 09.09.2020 |
| 3 | UN (UNPA) | 24.11.2020 |
| 4 | NL (PostNL) | 12.02.2021 |
| 5 | LU (POST Luxembourg) | 06.10.2021 |
UN is thus the third crypto stamp pioneer worldwide and the first international organization issuer ever.
Tech Stack: Ethereum Mainnet
Unlike almost all other crypto stamp issuers, UNPA uses Ethereum mainnet (not Polygon Layer-2):
| Issuer | Blockchain | Token standard |
|---|---|---|
| AT/HR/NL/LU/PT/PL/CH/DE/IT/LI | Polygon | ERC-721 / ERC-1155 |
| UN (UNPA) | Ethereum mainnet | (presumably ERC-721) |
| FR (La Poste) | Tezos | FA2 |
| US (USPS) | Immutable X | proprietary |
Strategic logic of UNPA's choice:
- Maximum decentralization: Ethereum mainnet is the most robust public blockchain
- International credibility: Ethereum as the "Bitcoin of smart contracts" has global brand
- Symbolism: UN values (universality, inclusion) match Ethereum decentralization
- Trade-off: higher gas costs, but bearable with limited mintages (~30,000 per edition)
Tech partner: UN Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) — internal UN tech authority that developed the smart contract. First OICT blockchain implementation.
Activation Mechanic: Scratch-Off Code
UNPA uses an innovation in crypto stamp activation:
Standard method (AT, HR, etc.): QR code on stamp → scan with wallet app → NFT transfer.
UNPA method:
- Scratch-off area on mini-sheet
- Customers scratch off the layer → revealed secret code
- Code entry on crypto.unstamps.org
- NFT is transferred to user Ethereum wallet
Advantages of the scratch-off model:
- Anti-theft: damaged scratch-off areas show that code was already revealed
- Collector element: two states of the stamp (activated vs. unactivated) as collector value
- Tradition of lottery/gaming industry applied to philately
Trade-off: Stamp is damaged by activation — collectors face choice between NFT activation and undamaged collector stamp.
Designer: Sergio Baradat
Sergio Baradat is the internal UNPA designer for all previous UN Crypto Stamps. He is a long-time UN designer with specialization in:
- Stamp design for UN themes
- Visual communication for SDGs
- International imagery
His design style:
- Minimalism with clear symbols
- International imagery (transcending languages and cultures)
- Hexachrome printing + foil accents for high-quality optics
Printer: Royal Joh Enschedé
Royal Joh Enschedé is a Dutch securities printer based in Haarlem (Netherlands), founded 1703 — one of the oldest European printing houses:
- Specialized in stamps, banknotes, passports
- Dutch and international clients
- High-security print technology
Selection as UNPA printer reflects:
- International renown (instead of national printers)
- Security competence (banknote tradition)
- Hexachrome + foil specialization
Theme Strategy: UN Values
UN Crypto Stamps have consistent UN mission themes:
| Series | Date | Theme | Variations |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | 24.11.2020 | 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | 51 (3 × 17) |
| II | 18.11.2022 | Peace (in 6 languages) | 21 (3 × 7) |
| III (expected) | 2025/2026 | unknown | — |
Thematic consistency:
- Universal values instead of national symbols
- UN mission as identification anchor
- Multilingualism as format element (Series II)
Significance in the Wiki
UNPA is structurally central in the wiki as:
- Pioneer #3 worldwide (24.11.2020)
- First UN blockchain application ever
- Only international organization as crypto stamp issuer
- Three-location/three-currency architecture — structurally unique
- Ethereum mainnet implementation (vs. dominant Polygon line)
- Scratch-off activation innovation
- OICT tech partnership as internal UN tech competence
- UN value themes (SDGs, Peace) as alternative to national-symbolic line
UNPA thus complements wiki coverage with a previously entirely missing issuer category (international organizations) and a previously missing tech variant (Ethereum mainnet as crypto stamp platform).
Editions by this issuer
| Issued | Edition | ISO | Chain | Program |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-11-18 | UN Crypto Stamp Series II – Peace Symbols | INTL | ethereum | mainstream |
| 2020-11-24 | UN Crypto Stamp Series I – UN Headquarters & 17 SDGs | INTL | ethereum | mainstream |
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes UNPA from other crypto stamp issuers?
Several structural distinctions: (1) Not a national postal administration: UNPA is an international organization postal administration on behalf of the United Nations. (2) Three locations with three currencies: New York (USD), Geneva (CHF), Vienna (EUR) — every crypto stamp edition is issued in parallel in all three currencies. (3) Ethereum instead of Polygon: one of the few crypto stamp pioneers with Ethereum mainnet (higher gas costs, but maximum decentralization). (4) Scratch-off activation instead of QR code: secret code is revealed by scratching off a layer — innovation in activation mechanic. (5) UN mission themes: Sustainable Development Goals (Series I) and Peace (Series II) — no commercial or national symbolic themes, but UN values. (6) OICT partnership: smart contract development by UN Office of Information and Communications Technology — internal UN tech competence.
What is the "Strategy on New Technologies for the United Nations"?
The "Strategy on New Technologies for the United Nations" is a strategy document launched in December 2018 by the UN Secretary-General for using new technologies (AI, biotech, blockchain, robotics) to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Five guiding principles: (1) Protect and promote global values. (2) Foster inclusion and transparency. (3) Work in partnership. (4) Build on existing capabilities and mandates. (5) Be humble and continue to learn. The UN Crypto Stamps are a concrete implementation example of this strategy — they demonstrate how blockchain technology can be used for UN values (especially SDGs and peace). Significance: (1) The UN Crypto Stamps are the first blockchain application of the UN at all with public visibility. (2) They establish a model for other international organizations. (3) They connect traditional philately with modern tech education.
Where can one buy UN Crypto Stamps?
UN Crypto Stamps are sold exclusively by UNPA. Three distribution channels: (1) Online shop unstamps.org — global shipping, stamps can be purchased in all three currencies. (2) UN Stamp Shops on-site in New York (UN Headquarters, USA), Geneva (Palais des Nations, Switzerland) and Vienna (Vienna International Centre, Austria). (3) Crypto platform crypto.unstamps.org — for digital NFT activation. Important: NOT from third-party providers like WOPA Plus are original prices guaranteed — UNPA originals are sometimes only available directly. Important notes: (1) NFT activation is final — damaged scratch-off areas cannot be returned. (2) Activated codes cannot be reused. (3) MetaMask or other Ethereum wallets required.
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