Digital Protection and Inheritance of Cultural Heritage based on Ethereum Blockchain Technology

Abstract

The digital preservation and protection of cultural heritage have become increasingly important in the modern world, where the security and authenticity of cultural assets are often compromised. Existing systems face challenges such as inadequate provenance tracking, data manipulation, and lack of transparency in access management. To address these issues, a novel system is proposed that utilizes Ethereum blockchain technology for securing and managing cultural heritage assets. The proposed solution leverages the decentralized, immutable nature of blockchain to ensure the integrity, provenance, and transparent access to digital assets like artworks, manuscripts, and historical artifacts. By employing Ethereum smart contracts, digital signatures, and a decentralized governance model, the system automates ownership management, tracks asset provenance, and facilitates secure access controls. Results indicate that the system significantly improves the transparency, security, and traceability of cultural heritage assets, offering a robust method for preserving these valuable resources. It enables real-time monitoring of asset interactions and ensures that ownership transfers are securely recorded, thus safeguarding the assets' authenticity. The system also fosters collaboration among stakeholders through a decentralized platform, ensuring sustainable and verifiable inheritance of cultural heritage. Future developments could enhance the system's capabilities, including real-time adaptation to user behavior and integrating broader global heritage networks, reinforcing the platform's role in preserving cultural legacy for future generations.