Use Case of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs): A Blockchain Approach for Geological Data Dissemination

Abstract

The application of blockchain technology and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) into geology offers potential for the preservation, management, and dissemination of geological data. This perspective paper explores the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of utilizing NFTs in managing geological data, particularly focusing on geology research materials. NFTs provide immutable, decentralized records that enhance data integrity, accessibility, and provenance, addressing long-standing issues in geological data management. This study outlines the key advantages of NFTs, including immutable record-keeping, enhanced accessibility, clear provenance and ownership, and interoperability across platforms. Specific use cases are highlighted, such as the creation of digital specimen collections, the development of interactive educational resources such as museums, and novel funding mechanisms for research. While the potential applications are promising, the discussion also addresses current limitations, including technical complexity, environmental concerns, and regulatory uncertainties. The opinion concludes with prospects, emphasizing the need for further research and technological advancements to fully realize the benefits of NFTs in geological data management, potentially revolutionizing the field of geology by making data more accessible, reliable, and secure.

1. Introduction

The preservation and dissemination of geological data have always posed challenges, particularly in the fieldwork data where data can be extensive and complex. In certain subdomains of geology, like volcanology, physical samples or field photographs are essential for research. Scientists collect data from these specimens, analyze it, and produce scientific outcomes. Once utilized in research, these physical objects, along with their associated metadata and descriptions, become data. This metadata and documentation facilitate discovery and access for reuse while capturing geological information [1]. In geology, a rock sample only becomes a valuable source of scientific information when it is carefully documented. Without that documentation, the rock loses its scientific significance and is just a “plain old rock” again [1]. Traditional dissemination and preservation, such as publication in scientific articles and libraries, often hinder non-scientific public access due to paywalls, limited distribution, and traditional dissemination practices. With the rise of blockchain technology and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), new opportunities have emerged to address these challenges. In this paper, I explore the feasibility of utilizing blockchain in geology, considering their benefits, challenges, and prospects.

Blockchain is a decentralized and immutable ledger that records transactions across a network of computers. This technology ensures data security, transparency, and integrity without the need for intermediaries. Each block in the chain contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data, making it virtually tamper-proof. The decentralized nature of blockchain allows it to distribute the verification and recording of transactions across multiple nodes, eliminating the need for a central authority and enhancing trust through a consensus mechanism. Each block in a blockchain contains a unique cryptographic hash, timestamp, and transaction data, making it extremely difficult to alter. This structure not only ensures that the data recorded is secure and verifiable but also makes the system robust against tampering and fraud [2,3].

NFTs are a unique application of blockchain technology designed to provide proof of ownership and authenticity for digital and physical assets. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Cardano, which are fungible and can be exchanged one-for-one, NFTs are indivisible and unique, making them ideal for representing singular items or data sets [4,5]. Each NFT is a distinct unit of data stored on the blockchain that can represent a variety of digital or physical items, such as art, music, videos, health information, archeological preservation, and even geological data [5,6,7,8,9,10]. Figure 1 illustrates the concept of NFTs and cryptocurrency. NFTs can represent unique digital or physical items, such as a rock sample. They include metadata that describes the object and may contain additional information. Each NFT is tied to a specific, tangible object. In contrast, fungible tokens like the cryptocurrency represent an abstract value, such as the ownership of a certain amount of currency. Several institutions have embraced NFTs for digital curation and preservation. For instance, the British Museum and Universal Hip Hop Museum have utilized NFTs to engage audiences and generate revenue [11,12]. These examples illustrate the potential of NFTs to transform traditional methods of cultural and data dissemination.

NFTs are being explored for various applications beyond art and culture. However, to-date, publicly available information on the use of NFTs in geological data remains sparse. In healthcare, NFTs can be used to monetize health data, ensure equitable access to medical resources, and enhance the transparency and efficiency of health information systems. For instance, NFTs can facilitate the management and distribution of health data, offering patients control over their data while providing valuable insights to researchers [6,8].

Recent studies have highlighted blockchain’s ability to ensure data integrity and secure sharing of scientific information [13,14]. Applications in paleontology and mineralogy have demonstrated how NFTs can digitize specimens, preserve data provenance, and enable collaboration among researchers. These developments suggest a broader scope for applying NFTs and blockchain in geology. For geological data, this immutability is especially valuable for safeguarding the authenticity of records over time. Moreover, blockchain’s consensus mechanism eliminates the need for a central authority, creating a trustless environment where multiple parties can collaborate without the risk of data manipulation. These characteristics make blockchain an ideal technology for managing high-integrity, high-value datasets, such as those used in geology. This paper will explore the potential advantages of applying NFTs to geological data management, aiming to highlight the benefits and possibilities that this technology can bring to the field.

2. The Role of NFTs in Geological Data Management

Geological data management faces several challenges, including provenance verification, data integrity, and accessibility. Metadata associated with geological samples often becomes fragmented, and the source data may be challenging to trace or verify over long periods. In geology, where high-value datasets like field measurements and satellite data are continuously generated, there is a risk that these records could be altered, corrupted, or lost. Current systems may lack the ability to provide verifiable, immutable data provenance, which is essential for maintaining long-term data reliability in scientific research. Blockchain’s decentralized ledger system offers a solution to these challenges by ensuring that once data is recorded, it cannot be altered, thereby preserving the authenticity of geological data over time. Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) offer several key advantages for managing geological data, each leveraging the unique capabilities of blockchain technology to enhance the way data is preserved, shared, and accessed (Figure 2). These advantages include immutable record keeping, enhanced accessibility, provenance and ownership, and interoperability.

NFTs provide a permanent, unalterable record of digital geological data and their metadata. This ensures that once data is minted, it cannot be tampered with, thereby preserving the integrity and authenticity of the information. In the context of NFTs, “minting” refers to the process of recording digital files (e.g., geological data or 3D models) onto the blockchain, generating unique tokens that certify ownership and authenticity [6]. The immutability of blockchain-based NFTs ensures that the records are immune to modifications, deletions, or replacements, which is crucial for maintaining the reliability of scientific data [7,15].

By tokenizing geological data, access can be broadened beyond the scientific community. NFTs can be shared, sold, or traded on digital marketplaces, making geological data more accessible to educators, researchers, and the public. This democratization of data helps in reducing barriers to access caused by traditional paywalls and publication practices. NFTs establish clear ownership and provenance of geological specimens and data. This is particularly important for researchers who need to verify the source and authenticity of their data. NFTs are stored on blockchain networks, which associate ownership to a single account and ensure that the ownership records are transparent and easily transferable. This is beneficial in verifying the origin and chain of custody of geological samples, thereby enhancing trust in the data used for research. Additionally, NFTs present a novel approach to managing and monetizing intellectual property (IP) in science. Platforms like Molecule have pioneered IP-NFTs, enabling the tokenization of research projects [16]. NFTs also facilitate interoperability between different data management systems and platforms. This can lead to more integrated and comprehensive geological data repositories. NFTs can serve as a bridge between various data ecosystems, enabling seamless data exchange and collaboration across different platforms and institutions.

3. Application NFTs in Geology

The integration of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) into geology, including volcanology, offers transformative opportunities for data management, public engagement, and intellectual property protection. NFTs revolutionize how geological research is shared, preserved, and funded, addressing key challenges faced by researchers and educators.

3.1. Digital Specimen Collections

NFTs enable geologists to create digital representations of physical specimens, accompanied by detailed metadata that certifies their authenticity and traceability. These digital collections can be shared globally, fostering collaboration and data exchange among researchers. By making high-quality digital specimens accessible, geologists can enhance the study and understanding of geological materials without the limitations posed by physical handling or transportation. This approach preserves the integrity of valuable geological samples while opening new opportunities for remote research, data processing, and educational applications. For example, digital models of rock formations, fossils, or mineral specimens can be studied worldwide, reducing logistical barriers while ensuring scientific rigor. In 2021, renowned paleontologist Jack Horner collaborated with artist Phil Wilson to create a series of NFTs featuring digital artworks of dinosaurs [17]. This initiative aimed to benefit paleontology research and education by leveraging the popularity of NFTs to raise funds and awareness. The collection included 150 NFTs, each representing unique digital art pieces of dinosaurs, with proceeds supporting further paleontological studies.

3.2. Educational Resources and Public Engagement

NFTs have the potential to enhance educational resources and engage the public in geology. Interactive educational materials can include detailed information about volcanic specimens, eruption histories, 3D models of volcanoes, and geological formations. These resources can be made globally accessible to students and educators, fostering a deeper understanding of geological processes. NFTs also provide an innovative way to engage the public by allowing enthusiasts to own digital representations of geological history. Virtual exhibitions, online museums, and auctions of geological NFTs can generate widespread interest and financial support for research. One notable example is the Volcanoland NFTs Museum [18], developed using the Polygon and Ethereum blockchains (Figure 3). This museum leverages NFTs to provide an immersive educational experience, making geological data accessible to a global audience. Visitors can explore 3D models of volcanoes enriched with metadata, gaining insights into volcanic features and processes. These NFTs, created using open-source remote sensing data and high-resolution elevation models, were minted on the OpenSea marketplace [19] and included detailed metadata for each volcano. During its initial opening in 2022, the museum attracted nearly 1000 visitors daily, demonstrating the public’s interest in engaging with geological data through blockchain technology. In such applications, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and satellite data are essential, providing critical insights for constructing accurate geological and volcanic models. Blockchain ensures that these data types are linked to immutable records of their processing history, enabling users to verify their authenticity and provenance. By employing blockchain-based NFTs to represent these datasets, researchers can establish a transparent and secure data-sharing framework. This approach is particularly valuable when datasets are accessed by multiple stakeholders or shared for public dissemination.

3.3. Intellectual Property Management and Data Traceability

In geology, blockchain technology addresses critical challenges in managing intellectual property (IP) rights for proprietary GIS or remote sensing data. NFTs allow researchers to tokenize and distribute verified versions of their work, ensuring that ownership and provenance are preserved. This is crucial when high-value datasets are shared across institutions or platforms, as it guarantees the integrity and traceability of the data. Additionally, blockchain supports secure transactions for research data exchanges, preserving the integrity of datasets such as remote sensing images across distributed networks. By providing researchers with greater control over data access and traceability, NFTs and blockchain open new possibilities for monetizing high-value geological data while ensuring compliance with ethical and scientific standards. These innovations demonstrate the potential of blockchain to reshape how geological research is conducted, shared, and valued.

3.4. Research Funding

One of the ways NFTs can facilitate funding for research projects is by allowing researchers to sell tokens representing their work or by implementing a voting mechanism in the grant proposal process. Figure 4 illustrates a potential use case for NFTs in facilitating a research proposal reviewing and voting process, using a similar mechanism as governance voting [16]. First, funding agencies create and deploy a smart contract identifiable by its unique contract address. A “smart contract” is a self-executing agreement written in code that automates processes such as granting access to datasets and ensuring transparency and efficiency [13]. Researchers in the geology field, or those interested in it, can then own unique NFTs that distinguish them from one another. The smart contract can be customized to make these NFTs non-transferable, ensuring they remain with their original owners. Second, Principal Investigators (PIs) submit their proposals to the funding agencies. Whenever a proposal requires the review and vote of NFT holders, the proposal details are uploaded to off-chain storage, such as the Interplanetary File System (IPFS), to avoid storing large files on the blockchain. Voting can be conducted either on-chain or off-chain. For on-chain voting, a voting smart contract records all participant votes, allowing for transparent and trusted auditing [16]. For off-chain voting, voters can sign their votes with their private keys, enabling authors to verify the legitimacy of each vote. Finally, voters have the option to delegate their votes to someone else whom they believe has a better understanding of the proposal.

4. Discussion

Currently, the use of NFTs in geological data management is in its nascent stages. Most applications are experimental, with few concrete implementations in real-world scenarios. Institutions like museums and research organizations have begun to explore the potential of NFTs for digital curation and preservation, but comprehensive, large-scale adoption in geology remains limited. Early projects, such as the Volcanoland NFTs Museum, demonstrate the potential for interactive educational resources and public engagement but also highlight the need for further development and refinement.

While the potential applications of NFTs in geology are promising, there are several limitations that need to be addressed. Firstly, the technical complexity and the need for specialized knowledge in both blockchain technology and geology can pose significant barriers to adoption. The creation and management of NFTs require expertise that is not commonly found among geologists. Additionally, the environmental impact of blockchain technology, particularly proof-of-work consensus mechanisms, raises concerns about the sustainability of widespread NFT usage.

Another limitation is the legal and regulatory framework surrounding NFTs and blockchain technology. As these technologies are still relatively new, there is a lack of clear regulations and standards, which can create uncertainties and risks for institutions looking to adopt them. The issue of digital rights management and ownership also needs to be carefully considered to ensure that the provenance and authenticity provided by NFTs are legally recognized. The future of NFTs in geology depends on key advancements in technology and regulation. One significant challenge is the high energy consumption associated with blockchain technologies, particularly those using proof-of-work (PoW) protocols. However, the adoption of more sustainable alternatives, such as proof-of-stake (PoS) systems, offers a promising solution by drastically reducing energy requirements. For example, platforms like the Cardano blockchain [20]. have already implemented PoS mechanisms, addressing environmental concerns while maintaining the security and functionality of blockchain technology. Transitioning to PoS-based platforms is a crucial step toward mitigating the environmental impact of NFTs. In addition to technological advancements, the evolving legal and regulatory landscape will play a vital role in the adoption of NFTs. As clearer guidelines and standards are established, institutions will gain greater confidence in using blockchain-based solutions. These developments will enhance the security and reliability of NFTs, encouraging their broader application in geological research and data management.

Further research is needed to explore the full potential of NFTs in geological data management. This includes developing user-friendly tools and platforms that can simplify the creation and management of NFTs for non-technical users. Collaborations between technologists and geologists can foster innovative solutions that leverage the strengths of both fields.

In conclusion, while there are significant challenges and limitations to the adoption of NFTs in geology, the potential benefits in terms of data integrity, accessibility, and provenance are substantial. Continued research and technological advancements will be crucial in overcoming these challenges and unlocking the full potential of NFTs in geological data management.

5. Conclusions

The application of NFTs and blockchain technology into the field of geology presents a promising path for enhancing the preservation and dissemination of geological data. NFTs offer unique advantages in terms of immutable record-keeping, enhanced accessibility, provenance, and interoperability. Despite the current limitations, including technical complexity, environmental concerns, and regulatory uncertainties, the potential benefits are significant. Future developments in blockchain technology and regulatory frameworks, along with continued research and collaboration, will be key to realizing the full potential of NFTs in geology. As the field progresses, NFTs could revolutionize the way geological data is managed, shared, and utilized, paving the way for more robust and accessible scientific research.