Application of Blockchain Technology and NFTs in a Museum Environment

Abstract

Museums as traditional institutions are usually not leaders in the use of the latest and disruptive technologies. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has influenced the growing interest of researchers and museum experts in new solutions for communication and museum operations. That is how blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFT) entered the focus of museums. Although it is most often associated with cryptocurrencies, this technology, due to its main property, the immutability of records on the chain, has great potential for use in various aspects of museum work.This paper will show how blockchain and NFTs can be used in museums, from checking the provenance, ownership, and authorship of museum objects, facilitating their borrowing, more efficient digital rights management to building smart museums. It will also focus on how museums have so far experimented with NFTs and blockchain technology and highlight the potential problems of their use. Huge challenges to understanding and adopting this technology is the lack of knowledge base and this paper aims to bring the topic of blockchain technology within the museum field to the table and start a conversation on this fast-growing new technology and possibilities of its implementation.