What is the brain that it can understand science?What is science that it can understand the brain?These two basic questions (with homage to Warren McCulloch in the framing) have guided my career, aiming to understand the brain and an effort to understand science. This journey has taken me from academic lab work to clinical research oversight and government policy to the emerging health & science technology industry and back to academia. It has now led me to co-lead, along with Dr. Jennifer Lovejoy of the Institute of Systems Biology, this section of Frontiers in Systems Biology -Systems Concepts, Theory and Policy in Biology and Medicine. Our journal Chief Editor, Dr. Yoram Vodovotz, has laid out the overarching vision for this and the other sections (Vodovotz, 2021). This Grand Challenge is an effort to add another layer of detail to the portions of that broad scope contained in our Systems Concepts section (Lovejoy, 2024).Systems biology and systems medicine have roots going back to at least World War II, when biologists and physiologists were recruited into the war effort in the United States and Britain, trained in computational approaches, and joined with engineers and mathematicians to solve complex problems with communications, radar, anti-aircraft guns and more (Churchill, 1949). This alignment led to the foundation of the field of cybernetics and the related Macy Conferences in the U.S. postwar, while in Britain, "This coalescing of biological, engineering, and mathematics frameworks would continue to great effect a few years later as the Ratio Club," (Husbands, 2008). In the decades that followed, this robust milieu of ideas would foster the development of everything from general systems theory and information theory to artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive science (Pickering, 2010). Despite this early alignment, it would be decades before systems biology and systems medicine arose as formal fields of inquiry (Green, 2017).Science has arguably been the most effective way of generating and validating new knowledge for the past few centuries. New technologies and computing approaches now provide us with novel tools to accelerate this process. While early work is being done to explore the use of these new tools for science, these have been limited in success to real-world application to detailed aspects of biology and medicine (McCoy, 2024). A comprehensive conceptual framework may be a more effective way to realize the value of technology in accelerating science. Modern science is not a simple holistic process, but an amalgam of processes and interests that have accumulated over centuries.By analyzing this system of science, we can better synthesize a new approach to using the array of emerging technologies now available. This will require us to revisit the current human and institutional processes that govern the creation of new scientific knowledge. A human and machine hybrid approach, aligned with a governance in the classic cybernetic style (i.e. control and communication in humans and machines), may allow us to optimize our scientific efforts and advance knowledge for the betterment of all of humanity.There has been much excitement about the potential of emerging technologies applied to science in recent yearsfrom AI to applications of blockchain technologies and web3 applied as decentralized science (DeSci) (Weidener, 2024). In these nascent efforts there has often been an oversimplification of science in order to capture technical requirements to automate or simulate biomedical research.Science is not done by a single person or organization. Science embodies the contribution of multiple individualswhose brains are themselves collections of dozens of subsystems (Kirby, 2024)processed through a series of refinement and testing. The results of these are moved through a longitudinal process of validation, contextual framing against prior accumulated knowledge, and consensus determination of evidence level and confidence in the results. Only then does this new knowledge contribute to the body of generalized knowledge we applied to the real world.Creating a new technology-accelerated knowledge system for biomedical science -what I'm calling here Scientia Machinamay be best approached through first articulating the conceptual and epistemological framework of the current system of biomedical science as it moves from data to information to evidence to knowledge and its application. Along the way it passes through layers of trust and is eventually captured in the artifacts of biomedical science we have come to rely on and expect. For applications of emerging technologysuch as the automated complex information processing of AI and the automated trust and governance of blockchainto be most beneficial to science, we should use them to systematically augment and accelerate these processes and creation of the artifacts of science while maintaining or improving the basic conceptual framework of biomedical knowledge discovery and implementation. Eventually parts of the current system may be sundowned leading to an even greater acceleration of science.This Scientia Machina framework starts with identifying key layers of trust in the biomedical bench to bedside process of evidence based medicine. Here I have proposed five layers of trust along with examples of their current artifacts and processes, plus potential approaches to augmenting these with technology and related adjustment to the current workflow (Figure 1).Data Layer -Data are collected in experimental and/or clinical context, often based on specific methodology. The principal investigator (PI) and team, along with the equipment and techniques used, are trusted to produce and capture explainable and reproducible data. This layer is only sometimes made transparent and rarely validated.Future of Data -Data are verifiable through trackable provenance and alignment with related metadata (e.g. demographics, treatment delivery details, device and equipment specifications, etc.). Data can be accessed for querying and algorithm training without moving, copying or exposing the data.Information Layer -Data are combined in datasets with contextual meta-data (e.g. demographics of research participants). The PI and team are trusted to compile, store and manage this data. It is increasingly becoming requested by funders and publishers to be made available. Some programs promote dataset sharing through centralized repositories or direct PI to PI contact.Future of Information -Data confidence fabrics allow sorting combined datasets based on confidence levels for each data point related to their associated metadata, with deployable programming to temporarily convert non-standard data into a calculable or trainable standard.Evidence Layer -Analysis of the datasets and testing hypotheses produces results that interpreted as findings. These are presented as novel assertion, backed by the data and methods, and put into the context of previously identified findings in the field in the form of a manuscript submitted for peerreview. The journal editors and peer-reviewers are trusted to confirm the assertions are supported by the evidence, fit (or convincingly contradict) previously established knowledge in the field.Future of Evidence -Swarm approach, i.e. networked, auditable crowd-sourcing, to peer review with a wider array of contributors with inputs weighted based on preset governance and continuous crowd feedback for nearer to real-time review with broader, multi-discipline input.Knowledge Layer -Combined sets of published articles are reviewed by a group of experts against certain criteria to answer specific questions about the state of evidence in the field as systematic reviews and meta-analyses to provide the most up-to-date knowledge in the specific area of focus.The groups of authors along with editors and peer-reviewers of those systematic reviews and metaanalyses are trusted to have executed and validated, respectively, a thorough and sound assessment of the evidence for the area in question to provide new knowledge.Future of Knowledge -Swarm approach (see above) to systematic review with network on demand request for new or updated reviews of existing evidence along with evidence threshold signals (i.e. sufficient new evidence in a particular areas prompts new or updated systematic review).Applied Knowledge Layer -Applications of knowledge can come in various forms, including pharmaceuticals, devices and procedures. The application of knowledge is periodically assessed for incorporation into clinical practice guidelines (CPG) and similar clinical guidance documents. The CPG group is trusted to have found and appropriately graded all of the available evidence and refined knowledge on a topic area to best inform clinicians how to address the area optimally.Future of Knowledge Application -Networked clinical practice guideline wiki (collaboratively edited living document) allowing for continuous, network refereed input and update of new knowledge.Each of these layers and their future states can be augmented, enhanced, accelerated and potentially replaced with appropriate applications of an array of automated processing and trust technologies. Additional administrative areas of biomedical research such as gap analysis, funding, regulatory review and more can be similarly improved.The call to action for this Grand Challenge is to: a) Consider the core elements of what we need to maintain and continue to elevate from our past and current successful biomedical research and knowledge translation effort, along with areas where those efforts have been flawed, corrupt or unsuccessful. b) Critique (and adjust or replace as needed) the Scientia Machina framework proposed here as the backbone for the layers of trust that are the core elements to be maintained as we continue to bring new technologies into biomedical research to accelerate and improve science. c) Capture and assess those current pilots to apply emerging technology -especially within AI (complex information processing) and DeSci (automated governance, auditing and/or incentivization) as umbrella categories for these effortsand place them in the context of a broader framework of what we are trying to achieve with biomedical research. d) Conceptualize gaps in our current efforts along with bridges from the current status quo to the desired future that may give us a better chance of success at transformational change to the systems of biomedical research and knowledge translation. e) Communicate all aspects of the above areas in appropriate venues of biology, medicine, technology and policy. This includes formal submissions of manuscript on any related topics to this journal section and its partnered sections as appropriate.This proposed conceptual framework is merely a jumping off point for broader consideration of how to maintain the core elements of the trust we have imbued in biomedical research as we continue to explore applications of emerging technology to improve its quality, manage its costs, and accelerate its contribution to the health and well-being of everyone. In the not so distant future, it is conceivable that we may be able to make all available relevant data on a topic or a patient accessible to any researcher to make AI-augmented and blockchain-audited hypothesis testing to provide near realtime, peer-validated contributions to evidence-based medicine. This could allow clinicians to query and access this near real-time evidence as part of compressing the 17 years it takes to go from bench to bedside by a factor of 10,000xgiving us new, actionable evidence-based precision medicine for patients in under a day. This future is within reach. Aligning behind a shared framework like Scientia Machina can bring it into our reality even faster. Better science. Cheaper research. Faster Miracles.STM is the sole author, having conceived, written, and edited this manuscript.
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the key risks associated with the operation of a crypto platform in the context of the transition to Web3 technology. The authors explore the activities of leading blockchain platforms such as Ethereum, Solana, Binance Smart Chain, Polkadot, Avalanche, Cosmos and Polygon, identifying the main types of risks that apply to the implementation of Web3 technology. The paper identifies threats associated with cryptocurrency volatility, regulatory uncertainty, cybersecurity, specific risks of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), as well as scalability, accessibility and environmental issues. The authors analyzed the activities of the crypto platform and found that each platform has a unique structure and asset structure, which affects the nature of the risks. For example, Ethereum dominates the DeFi and NFT sectors, Solana is distinguished by its speed and low fees, Binance Smart Chain focuses on DeFi, and Polkadot and Cosmos are developing cross-chain technologies for interoperability. The main risks analyzed in the article include: Volatility of cryptocurrencies, which can increase financial instability; Cybersecurity, including hacking attacks and vulnerabilities of smart contracts; Regulatory uncertainty, which can hinder innovation and create legal conflicts; DeFi risks, such as errors in smart contracts, liquidation problems and systemic failures; NFT risks, in particular high market speculation and fraud risks; Scalability, including technical limitations and high fees; Complexity of use, which can limit the widespread adoption of Web3; Accessibility and inclusiveness, including unequal access to technologies; Energy consumption and environmental friendliness, which can affect the environment. To minimize these risks, the authors proposed a risk management strategy based on semi-fundamental principles: comprehensiveness, preventiveness, consistency, decentralization, transparency, security and interoperability. This strategy includes the introduction of modern analytical methods such as scenario analysis, machine learning, Value at Risk (VaR), Conditional VaR (CVaR), Monte Carlo models, multi-level security systems, bug bounty programs, transaction encryption, decentralized oracles, risk hedging using derivatives and RegTech solutions for regulatory compliance. For the effective implementation of the proposed strategy, a risk management roadmap was developed, which details the stages of risk identification, assessment, management and monitoring. This map includes specific tools for each stage, such as scenario analysis, AI analytics, blockchain scanners, VaR and CVaR models, attack models, stress testing, blockchain analytics, encryption, futures, options, RegTech, KPIs and behavioral models. The implementation of the proposed strategy will create a favorable environment for the reliable and sustainable development of Web3 technologies and the cryptocurrency market. Further research should be aimed at detailing platform-specific strategies and adapting them to the changing landscape of Web3.
Krishna Nivash. J Krishna Nivash. J, Dr. V. Vijayakumar Dr. V. Vijayakumar
Blockchain Based Cross Network calling is an innovative decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) communication system leveraging WebRTC and blockchain technology. This paper explores the system architecture, scalability mechanisms, and potential future enhancements. We present an in-depth analysis of its hybrid decentralized architecture, discuss the scalability challenges in P2P networks, and propose future enhancements including Layer-2 blockchain solutions, decentralized signaling, and AI integration. The findings suggest that decentralized audio communication can be significantly improved through advanced architectural designs and optimized scalability solutions. This paper provides a comprehensive exploration of Cross Network-based decentralized communication, emphasizing its implications for privacy, security, and future enhancements in Web3 applications.
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji peran gamifikasi dalam mendorong komitmen Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) digital pada startup sosial yang berbasis teknologi Web3. Dengan meningkatnya adopsi Web3 dan model bisnis terdesentralisasi, pendekatan baru diperlukan untuk membangun keterlibatan pengguna dan memperkuat nilai sosial perusahaan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode campuran (mixed methods) dengan pendekatan studi kasus pada tiga startup sosial berbasis Web3 yang telah mengimplementasikan elemen gamifikasi dalam program CSR digital mereka. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi partisipatif, serta analisis data transaksi berbasis blockchain. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa elemen gamifikasi seperti reward token, leaderboard berbasis reputasi, dan tantangan komunitas dapat meningkatkan partisipasi pengguna dalam aktivitas sosial dan memperkuat persepsi terhadap komitmen sosial startup. Temuan penting menunjukkan bahwa keterlibatan pengguna meningkat hingga 45% setelah penerapan strategi gamifikasi yang terdesain secara strategis dan berbasis insentif digital. Simpulan dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa gamifikasi berperan signifikan dalam menginternalisasi nilai CSR digital pada platform Web3, serta memperkuat loyalitas pengguna terhadap misi sosial startup. Rekomendasi diberikan agar startup sosial merancang gamifikasi berbasis transparansi dan insentif berkelanjutan untuk memaksimalkan dampak sosial di era ekonomi digital
У сучасному світі корпоративне управління стикається з низкою викликів, пов’язаних із централізацією влади, непрозорістю прийняття рішень, неефективним розподілом ресурсів та корупційними ризиками. Традиційні організації значною мірою покладаються на людський фактор, що може призводити до затримок, конфлікту інтер- есів та зайвих витрат. У цьому контексті децентралізовані автономні організації (ДАО) пропонують альтер- нативний підхід, використовуючи смарт-контракти та блокчейн для автоматизованого й прозорого управління.Одна з основних переваг ДАО полягає в тому, що вони усувають необхідність у посередниках та централізованих структурах, замінюючи їх алгоритмічними механізмами голосування та фінансового управління. Такий підхід дозволяє кожному учаснику організації мати реальний вплив на процеси та гарантує чесний розподіл ресурсів відповідно до заздалегідь визначених правил у коді смарт-контрактів. В умовах цифровізації такі механізми є дуже важливими, оскільки вони забезпечують довіру між учасниками незалежно від їхнього мислення чи статусу та прозорість виконання всіх процесів. Це досягається завдяки тому, що всі транзакції, голосування та рішення зберігаються у блокчейні, де їх не можна змінити або приховати. Такий підхід управління значно підвищує рівень довіри з боку спільноти. Він також вирішує проблему централізованого управління, коли ключові рішення ухвалюються обмеженим колом осіб, що може призводити до недосконалих стратегій розвитку або конфліктів.Уряди багатьох країн, зокрема США та держав Європейського Союзу, активно досліджують способи інтеграції ДАО у чинні правові системи, що свідчить про зростаючу зацікавленість у використанні таких структур для реального бізнесу. Незважаючи на певні виклики у сфері юридичного визначення, цей напрямок продовжує активно розвиватися, і вже зараз є приклади успішних проектів, що працюють на основі децентралізованих механізмів управління.Розробка децентралізованих автономних організацій у корпоративному управлінні є важливим і перспективним напрямком, що дозволяє значно підвищити ефективність бізнес-процесів, забезпечити чесність та прозорість у прийнятті рішень, а також адаптувати компанії до нових умов цифрової економіки. З огляду на стрімке зростання популярності Web3-технологій, DeFi та інших децентралізованих систем, можна впевнено стверджувати, що децентралізовані автономні організації стануть невід’ємною частиною майбутнього корпоративного управління.
Personal AI assistants (e.g., Apple Intelligence, Meta AI) offer proactive recommendations that simplify everyday tasks, but their reliance on sensitive user data raises concerns about privacy and trust. To address these challenges, we introduce the Guardian of Data (GOD), a secure, privacy-preserving framework for training and evaluating AI assistants directly on-device. Unlike traditional benchmarks, the GOD model measures how well assistants can anticipate user needs-such as suggesting gifts-while protecting user data and autonomy. Functioning like an AI school, it addresses the cold start problem by simulating user queries and employing a curriculum-based approach to refine the performance of each assistant. Running within a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), it safeguards user data while applying reinforcement and imitation learning to refine AI recommendations. A token-based incentive system encourages users to share data securely, creating a data flywheel that drives continuous improvement. Specifically, users mine with their data, and the mining rate is determined by GOD's evaluation of how well their AI assistant understands them across categories such as shopping, social interactions, productivity, trading, and Web3. By integrating privacy, personalization, and trust, the GOD model provides a scalable, responsible path for advancing personal AI assistants. For community collaboration, part of the framework is open-sourced at https://github.com/PIN-AI/God-Model.
This paper presents method for transforming education funding through a blockchain-powered crowdfunding platform. This platform aims to empower students, educators, and educational institutions. Our goal is to create a decentralized environment where creative educational projects can receive financial support, providing assistance to students facing financial barriers and enabling small schools to request funding for infrastructure and program improvements. In response to the increasing demand for transparency and accountability in crowdfunding, our platform encourages collaboration among developers to enhance features and functionalities, all while offering a user-friendly interface through Web3 technology. The central focus is on fostering community involvement and attracting backing for educational initiatives, while also allowing the platform to evolve and scale efficiently with the benefits of Polygon's scalability
We live in an era of unprecedented transformation, driven by digital platforms that are redefining the creation, distribution, and consumption of creative content. The emergence of new digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Patreon has led to new forms of social inequality in the economy, AI ethics, and environmental sustainability. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) enhance content personalization and production efficiency, yet algorithmic opacity and revenue concentration create disparities that favor established creators. This study investigates the impact of digital platforms on creative industries through a qualitative methodology, integrating secondary data from global reports (e.g., UNCTAD, 2022) and case studies of TikTok, Patreon, and emerging Web3 alternatives. Findings highlight both opportunities—such as decentralized revenue models, AI-driven innovation, and regional creative growth—and challenges, including the monopolization of content distribution, ethical dilemmas in AI-generated creativity, and the environmental burden of data centers and blockchain transactions. This study focuses on the impact of Web3 technologies on the reliance of intermediaries while covering contemporary regulations on AI governance and platform responsibility. The study highlights the gap in policy efforts that ensure economic equity, transparency, and platform sustainability that need to be addressed. Suggested policy targets include more humane monetization of smaller creator's content, more responsible AI regulation, and the creation of less environmentally harmful digital systems. This study is situated within the larger discussion of the intersection of innovation, equity, and sustainability in the context of a developing digital creative economy.
Open access
Cultural Industries and Urban Development
University-Industry-Government Innovation Models
Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development
Mr. R. Suresh M. E, Mr. Mohamed Shalik. S, Mr. Joshva Jagan. A, Mr. Vigneshwaran. V
This venture presents a secure and private Web3 communication framework utilizing the Dual Reversible Secret Image Sharing Mechanism (DR-SISM). By utilizing wallet addresses for confirmation, it streamlines the method whereas guaranteeing security. DR-SISM safely encodes images into numerous offers, available as it were by the expecting beneficiary. The framework moreover coordinating AI-driven command help, permitting clients to send messages and share images utilizing normal dialect commands, making the stage user-friendly. This paper looks at existing communication advances and illustrates how combining DR-SISM, wallet-based informing, and AI makes a secure, adaptable Web3 arrangement.
This paper introduces Web 3.0 NEXT , a network design that pushes Web3 decentralization even further by reducing the dependency on centralized or traditional internet service providers (ISPs) and data centres. By integrating peer-to-peer mesh networking, decentralized storages, blockchain-based authentication and verification system, and a suite of emerging off-grid connectivity technologies like Wi-Fi mesh, LoRaWan, and satellite networks, the suggested system seeks to establish a strong, self-sustaining network infrastructure. This paper explores the benefits and technical challenges of such a system. That area can be used in a disaster-prone area, national security and economic innovations, which may force centralized authority from suppressing it. We will also discuss ethical, legal, financial, energy, user adoption, and security considerations, alongside relevant case studies and provide a holistic view of the potential challenges faced in deploying WEB 3.0 NEXT.
Cheques are a means of payment. It is a vehicle for so-called scriptural money. Because of its cashless nature, cheques are subject to shortcomings in terms of both security and ease of use. This article presents a system for dematerialising cheques, facilitating their certification and tracking through the use of revolutionary web3 technologies such as blockchain, interplanetary file systems and decentralised applications. The system relies on the Ethereum blockchain, whose Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism guarantees the security and integrity of transactions through decentralized block validation. Until now, issuing a cheque has required the physical contribution and presence of both the drawer and the bearer. We enable the drawer to digitally issue and manage a cheque, as well as the possibility of designating the bearer or not. For the account manager, the possibility of better satisfying the customer's needs by optimising processing time and automating tasks that do not require his or her involvement. The system also optimises processing time and eliminates the risks associated with physical cheques, offering a more secure and efficient alternative. All these operations, of course, take place in a secure environment, a security offered by the blockchain with its use of cryptography and decentralised file system.
Web3 is the next-generation internet, utilizing blockchain technology to power decentralized applications and give users greater control. However, the scalability limitations of blockchain create performance bottlenecks that hinder Web3’s overall processing capabilities. Among current scalability solutions, multi-chain architecture has been considered a promising approach with high flexibility. However, current multi-chain architecture lacks portability to existing blockchains and relies on relayers to solve timing issues in the interoperability process. The lack of portability makes it challenging for existing blockchains to adopt the current multi-chain architecture, significantly impeding multi-chain promotion. Moreover, relying on relayers to address timing issues leads to low efficiency and potential reliability risks. This paper introduces Zunesha, a multi-chain architecture that designs a smart-contractbased multi-chain toolkit (STACK) to provide a portable multi-chain architecture. Additionally, it introduces the Dynasty-Based Consensus Node Set Verification (DB-CNSV) protocol as a foundational safety mechanism to eliminate relayers in the interoperability process and address timing issues. Our evaluation shows that Zunesha significantly enhances the overall performance of the blockchain. As the number of subchains increases, the throughput grows almost linearly. Furthermore, the performance of inter-chain transactions surpasses that of the current mainstream multi-chain architecture, Cosmos.
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) signify a groundbreaking approach to Internet-based management, enabled by blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, and are viewed as fundamental elements of the Web3 ecosystem. In this study, we delve into the concept of DAOs by thoroughly investigating their underlying structure, ideology, and operational principles. Furthermore, we present a novel DAO framework derived from a technical and organizational assessment and provide an overview of cutting-edge DAO tools currently available. This research enables the swift implementation of DAO creation or transformation customized to an organization’s specific stage. Additionally, we recognize current challenges and shortcomings in existing DAOs and propose areas for future exploration.
This thesis explores the implementation of a Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) system using Ethereum and Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs). The project focuses on leveraging blockchain technology to create a secure and decentralized framework for digital identity management, incorporating Verifiable Credentials (VCs) and Verifiable Presentations (VPs). Key components include DID document management, secure user authentication, and user-friendly interface. What makes this system different is the integration with existing wallets, privacy and user control through selective disclosure, allowing users to share only necessary information, and key rotation. It also uses EIP-712 signatures for secure and structured data signing, which allows users to clearly see and understand what they are signing while the cryptography is securely handled by the wallet. Future work will focus on adding more wallet support, improving data storage, and enhancing system scalability and security.
Md Monjurul Karim, Dong Hoang Van, Sangeen Khan, Qiang Qu · 5 authors
In recent years, the interplay between AI agents and blockchain has enabled secure and scalable collaboration among multi-agent systems, promoting unprecedented levels of autonomy and interoperability. AI agents play a vital role in facilitating complex decision making and improving operational efficiency in blockchain systems. This collaborative synergy is particularly evident in how multi-agent systems collectively tackle complex tasks to ensure seamless integration within these frameworks. While significant efforts have been made to integrate AI agents and blockchain, most studies overlook the broader potential of AI agents in addressing challenges such as interoperability, scalability, and privacy issues. In this paper, we bridge these gaps by illustrating the interplay between AI agents and blockchain. Specifically, we explore how AI agents enhance decentralized systems and examine blockchain’s role in enabling secure and scalable collaboration. Furthermore, we categorize practical applications across domains, such as Web3, decentralized finance (DeFi), asset management, and autonomous systems, providing practical insights and real-world use cases. Additionally, we identify key research challenges, including the complexities of multi-agent coordination, interoperability across diverse systems, and privacy maintenance in decentralized frameworks. Finally, we offer future directions in terms of governance, sovereignty, computation, and interpretability to promote a secure and responsible ecosystem.
The design of Web3 applications presents unique challenges due to their complex technical requirements. Despite the increasing spread of this technology, there is a notable lack of comprehensive, empirically grounded design guidelines for developing user-friendly Web3 interfaces. This study addresses this gap through a systematic three-phase approach: (1) developing initial guidelines from a literature review and industry sources (n = 31), (2) conducting evaluations using a 14-point framework based on the initial guidelines to test its effectiveness across diverse Web3 applications (n = 25), and (3) validating refined guidelines through expert evaluation sessions (n = 7). Expert evaluations highlighted the need for task-oriented rather than category-based organization of design principles. Based on these findings, we developed a structured framework organizing guidelines into four key task flows, each with three implementation levels. The framework emphasizes progressive disclosure of blockchain concepts, integrated user education, and clear state visualization. Our findings contribute to academic discussion and industry practice by providing empirically validated patterns for Web3 interface design. This study lays a foundation for creating more accessible and user-friendly decentralized applications, though future work should focus on longitudinal validation and adaptation to emerging technologies.
Decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs) are an emerging vertical within "Web3" replacing the traditional method that physical infrastructures are constructed. Yet, the boundaries between DePIN and traditional method of building crowd-sourced infrastructures such as citizen science initiatives or other Web3 verticals are not always so clear cut. In this work, we systematically analyze the differences between DePIN and other Web2 and Web3 verticals. For this, the study proposes a novel decision tree for classifying systems as DePIN. This tree is informed by prior studies and differentiates DePIN from related concepts using criteria such as the presence of a three-sided market, token-based incentives for supply, and the requirement for physical asset placement in those systems. The paper demonstrates the application of the decision tree to various blockchain systems, including Helium and Bitcoin, showcasing its practical utility in differentiating DePIN systems. This research offers significant contributions towards establishing a more objective and systematic approach to identifying and categorizing DePIN systems. It lays the groundwork for creating a comprehensive and unbiased database of DePIN systems, which will inform future research and development within this emerging sector.
In materials science, utilizing globally distributed data is essential for advancing materials design through technologies such as materials informatics. Achieving this requires secure, transparent, and efficient methods for managing and sharing materials data. This study explores the potential of blockchain, smart contracts, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), and the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) within the Web3 framework for managing and sharing materials data. We developed and tested a prototype data management system using a thermophysical properties dataset. This system facilitates NFT minting, data storage on IPFS, and secure, traceable ownership transfer of NFTs, enhancing traceability, transparency, and security in data sharing. Additionally, decentralized systems employing blockchain technology, smart contracts, NFTs, and IPFS effectively address vulnerabilities associated with single points of failure common in traditional centralized systems. This study offers valuable insights for future materials design, demonstrating the efficacy of blockchain and related technologies in managing and sharing materials data.
Ben Biedermann, Matthew Scerri, Victoria Kozlova, Joshua Ellul
Web3’s decentralised infrastructure has upended the standardised approach to digital identity established by protocols like OpenID Connect. Web2 and Web3 currently operate in silos, with Web2 leveraging selective disclosure JSON web tokens (SD-JWTs) and Web3 dApps being reliant on on-chain data and sometimes clinging to centralised system data. This fragmentation hinders user esxperience and the interconnectedness of the digital world. This article explores the integration of Web3 within the OpenID Connect framework, scrutinising established authentication protocols for their adaptability to decentralised identities. The research examines the interplay between OpenID Connect and decentralised identity concepts, the limitations of the existing protocols like OpenID Connect for verifiable credential issuance, OpenID Connect framework for verifiable presentations, and self-issued OpenID provider. As a result, a novel privacy-preserving digital identity bridge is proposed, which aims to answer the research question of whether authentication protocols should inherently support Web3 functionalities and the mechanisms for their integration. Through a Decentralised Autonomous Organisation (DAO) use case, the findings indicate that a privacy-centric bridge can mitigate the existing fragmentation by aggregating different identities to provide a better user experience. While the digital identity bridge demonstrates a possible approach to harmonise digital identity across platforms for their use in Web3, the bridging is unidirectional and limits root trust of credentials. The bridge’s dependence on centralised systems may further fuel the debate on (de)centralised identities.
This study aims to provide an analysis of the state of recruitment in 2030. In addition, it offers a thorough analysis of AI-powered hiring solutions, stressing their effectiveness, capacity to match candidates, and user experiences while tackling issues like data privacy, equity, and implementation difficulties. Additionally, it examines AI technologies such as video interviews, chatbots, machine learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and predictive analytics, giving HR managers advice on how to use AI in talent management and acquisition. The article also covers future HR characteristics and more general HR duties that are necessary for companies to stay innovative and competitive. It also looks at how the Web3 economy and block chain affect hiring practices, pointing out inefficiencies in the way things are done now with ATS, AI, and outside agencies. Through tools for candidate matching, resume screening, interview scheduling, and diversity promotion, the study emphasizes AI's role in maximizing recruitment. It goes on models, research, and real-world instances of AI solutions used in talent acquisition. The potential and difficulties in a globalized and digitalized economy are discussed from the perspective of HR in 2030. Along with examining demographic, economic, and technological developments, the report also looks at the demands for job creation from 2020 to 2030 and the effects of globalization, automation, and other factors on occupations and skills.
The advent of Quantum Computing (QC) poses significant threats to the cryptographic foundations of Blockchain (BC) systems, as quantum algorithms like Shor’s and Grover’s undermine the security of public-key cryptography and hash functions. This research conducts a comprehensive risk assessment of quantum vulnerabilities across critical BC components, including consensus mechanisms, smart contracts, and digital wallets. Leveraging the STRIDE threat modeling framework, we analyze threat vectors specific to QC, identifying key areas most susceptible to quantum-enabled attacks, such as private key compromise, consensus disruptions, and smart contract integrity risks. Our contributions provide actionable mitigation strategies, including a detailed security blueprint for quantum resilience, encompassing the integration of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and the adoption of quantum-resistant hash functions. We offer implementation best practices, focusing on key management, secure coding, and network security to strengthen BC components against quantum threats. To mitigate the risk of QC during transition from classical to quantum-resistant BCs, we present two hybrid BC architectures. As part of a comprehensive quantum resilience strategy, these architectures facilitate a secure and scalable migration by integrating platform-specific adaptations that balance security, adaptability, and operational efficiency. Our analysis extends to major BC platforms, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, and Zcash, providing platform-specific vulnerability assessments and highlighting unique weaknesses in the quantum era. By identifying vulnerabilities, developing proactive defense strategies, and adopting a structured hybrid migration approach, this research equips BC stakeholders with a robust framework to achieve long-term quantum resilience. Finally, we explore challenges and research directions for integrating emerging technologies, including quantum machine learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Web3, with BC systems, and discuss new threats that may arise from this convergence in the QC era.
The Internet, initially celebrated as a bastion of freedom and openness, is increasingly becoming a domain of control, surveillance, and regulation by both states and private entities. The rise of state control and regulation of the Internet, along with the private sector’s expanding control over information, poses significant challenges to the ideals of freedom and openness that once defined the Internet. This article examines the transformation in Internet governance from a state of minimal regulation to a heavily controlled environment by both governments and corporations and explores how the blockchain technology and decentralised architecture underlying Web3 promise to redefine Internet governance and resist censorship. Through a mixed-method approach that synthesises insights from computer science, political science, and legal studies, the paper argues that public blockchains challenge Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ (ICANN) traditional control over DNS and significantly reduce the ability of centralised entities to exert control over content and communication, thereby enhancing freedom of expression and resisting censorship. The ability of Web3 to fully realise this potential is, however, dependent on overcoming complex technical and regulatory challenges.
Fueled by new technologies, such as blockchain and Web3, brands are increasingly extending into the digital space. One such novel extension is the non-fungible token (NFT). Numerous examples indicate that brands’ market performance with NFTs varies widely in terms of short-term revenues and spillovers to the parent brand. However, little is known about the factors that are associated with a successful performance. The goal of our research was to identify those factors. Regarding short-term revenues, we empirically tested the value of several possible success drivers; these drivers reflected a combination of the most important success factors for physical brand extensions (e.g., extension fit, brand equity) and value drivers for NFTs (e.g., added NFT utility, number of NFTs in the campaign). Using a novel dataset of 450 NFT campaigns, we document that both types of variables help to predict financial revenues from brand-related NFTs. Going beyond the short-term financial results of NFT campaigns, we also report experimental evidence that shows such campaigns may create negative spillovers for the parent brand. Overall, this research demonstrates (i) which value drivers correlate with a brand’s NFTs success, (ii) which brands are the best fit for NFTs, (iii) in what ways brand managers need to adapt their brand-extension strategies from the physical to the digital environment if they want to succeed with NFTs, and (iv) the risk that brand extensions with NFTs may hurt customers’ attitude towards the parent brand.