A medal will not be the only prize.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov will issue 240 exclusive Intelligence Cups for the winners of the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence, IOAI 2026, in Astana. Each medalist will receive one collectible cup, DKNews.kz reports.
What the winners will receive
Bagdat Mussin, President of the Competitive Programming Federation of Kazakhstan, announced the initiative during the opening ceremony.
“Our friend Pavel Durov wanted to support the participants of IOAI 2026. Right now, Pavel is announcing the launch of a collection of 240 exclusive Intelligence Cups for the Olympiad medalists. Each medalist will receive one of these unique awards. Pavel also guarantees a minimum buyback price, while their market value may rise significantly in the future due to their exclusivity and limited supply. Thank you, Pavel!” Bagdat Mussin said.
The size of the collection matches the number of future medalists. Only 240 Intelligence Cups will be issued.
The key feature is the guaranteed minimum buyback price. This sets the Intelligence Cups apart from the traditional commemorative gifts presented at international competitions.
The buyback amount has not yet been disclosed. The organizers have also not revealed the cups’ design, the collection’s technical format or the terms for their future resale.
It is therefore too early to view the award as an investment instrument. A rise in market value remains a possibility, not a guaranteed return.
Students from 106 countries gather in Astana
The third International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence is taking place in Astana from August 2 to 8 under the patronage of UNESCO. More than 500 students from 106 countries are competing, according to Akorda.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the opening ceremony on August 3. International experts, national team leaders and senior figures from the technology industry also addressed the participants.
“This very Olympiad may give rise to new ideas and projects capable of changing the world,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
IOAI follows the model of major international academic Olympiads but focuses on a discipline that is rapidly transforming technology and the global economy.
Students compete in developing artificial intelligence models and programming autonomous robots. The Competitive Programming Federation of Kazakhstan serves as the main host organization.
The official IOAI website confirms that Astana is hosting the third edition of the competition. Alongside the academic contest, the program includes educational events and international knowledge exchange.
Why Durov’s award stands out
International Olympiads traditionally recognize winners with medals and certificates. Durov has added a limited-edition collectible with a buyback mechanism.
For the students, an Intelligence Cup is more than an additional prize. It connects academic achievement with a technology-driven culture in which scarcity, provenance and the community of owners can shape value.
The limited supply strengthens that effect. Each of the 240 cups will belong to a specific IOAI 2026 medalist.
Unless a new series is released, the number of holders cannot increase. Scarcity is one of the factors that could influence the collection’s future market value.
IOAI’s growing status may also affect the value of the awards. Although the Olympiad is only in its third year, its 2026 edition has attracted participants from more than 100 countries and territories.
If IOAI eventually becomes the artificial intelligence equivalent of the world’s leading mathematics or informatics Olympiads, Durov’s first limited collection could acquire historical value. The market has yet to confirm that scenario.
What awaits the participants
The Olympiad includes two individual rounds, a team challenge and educational events. Students will also meet representatives of the international technology community.
The individual rounds test more than coding ability. Competitors need skills in machine learning, data analysis, AI model development and algorithm evaluation.
The team challenge adds a practical dimension. Success depends on assigning roles effectively, developing solutions quickly and fixing errors under time pressure.
The awards ceremony will take place on August 7. That is when the names of the 240 students set to receive medals and Pavel Durov’s Intelligence Cups will be announced.
