diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 4bda3c2..cb313cd 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ section{scroll-margin-top:72px}
 /* ---------- Hero ---------- */
 header.hero{padding:56px 0 40px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);background:
   radial-gradient(900px 300px at 80% -40%,var(--accent-soft),transparent 70%);}
-.hero .wrap{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.4fr .9fr;gap:40px;align-items:center}
+/* stretch (not center) so the card's lower edge lines up with the text column */
+.hero .wrap{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.4fr .9fr;gap:40px;align-items:stretch}
 .hero .badge{
   display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;font-size:12px;font-weight:600;
   color:var(--accent);background:var(--accent-soft);border:1px solid #cfe0fb;
@@ -137,14 +138,21 @@ header.hero{padding:56px 0 40px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);background:
 .fiat-bar.latest-post{margin-top:11px}
 .fiat-bar.latest-post .btc{font-size:17px;color:var(--accent)}
 
+/*
+  Flex column so the stats pin to the bottom (margin-top:auto), keeping the
+  card's lower edge level with the text column whatever height the art takes.
+*/
 .hero-card{
   background:var(--panel);border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:14px;
-  box-shadow:var(--shadow-lg);padding:30px 28px;text-align:center;
+  box-shadow:var(--shadow-lg);padding:28px;text-align:center;
+  display:flex;flex-direction:column;
+}
+.hero-card .hero-art{
+  width:100%;height:auto;margin:0 auto 16px;display:block;border-radius:12px;
 }
-.hero-card img{width:138px;height:138px;margin:0 auto 14px;display:block}
 .hero-card .name{font-family:var(--display);font-weight:600;font-size:18px}
 .hero-card .tag{color:var(--muted);font-size:13px;margin-top:2px}
-.hero-card .stats{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:10px;margin-top:20px}
+.hero-card .stats{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:10px;margin-top:auto;padding-top:20px}
 .hero-card .stat{background:var(--bg);border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:10px;padding:12px 8px}
 .hero-card .stat .n{font-family:var(--display);font-weight:600;font-size:20px;line-height:1}
 .hero-card .stat .l{font-size:10px;letter-spacing:.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--muted);margin-top:6px}
@@ -531,7 +539,8 @@ footer .built{font-size:13px;color:var(--muted);margin-top:8px}
     </div>
 
     <aside class="hero-card">
-      <img src="/pitura/logo/Logo_nero.svg" alt="Bitcoin After Life Protocol logo" width="138" height="138">
+      <img class="hero-art" src="/pitura/bal-hero-tree.webp" width="981" height="688"
+           alt="A tree of circuit branches growing from the Bitcoin After Life logo, with padlocks and an envelope at its tips and a clock behind it">
       <div class="name">BAL Protocol</div>
       <div class="tag">Electrum plugin + Will-Executor</div>
       <div class="stats">
diff --git a/pitura/bal-hero-tree.webp b/pitura/bal-hero-tree.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ceca6f
Binary files /dev/null and b/pitura/bal-hero-tree.webp differ