The Vatican Library has collaborated with NTT DATA Italia to integrate blockchain technology for preserving its extensive collection of manuscripts. The “Vatican Library Web3 Support Project,” announced on June 17, aims to broaden the library’s online community and engage supporters through modern technology.

The Vatican Library, which houses around 180,000 manuscripts and over 1.5 million printed books, will distribute non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to donors and social media users. Currently, this experimental project is exclusive to Italian residents, following a trial phase that began in Japan in February 2023.

Participants who shared the NFT project on their social media accounts by July 16 received a “Silver NFT.” This NFT provided access to a special collection of high-resolution images of 15 manuscripts. Financial supporters of the project received a “Gold NFT,” granting them access to high-resolution images of all 21 manuscripts in the collection.

So far, 419 users have received Polygon-based NFTs, demonstrating the utility of blockchain technology in preserving cultural heritage. These NFTs are soulbound, meaning they are non-transferable and permanently linked to the recipient’s digital wallet.

The Vatican Library, dating back to the 14th century, continues to make ancient documents more accessible to the public through innovative technology.

In 2020, the Vatican Library launched a new website with improved search functions and easier access to digital reproductions of manuscripts, inventories, and archival materials. The campaign aims to preserve cultural heritage with future plans potentially including immersive extended reality (XR) experiences, such as augmented or virtual reality.

NTT DATA Italia has been collaborating with the Vatican Library since 2014, utilizing its digital archive service AMLAD, which includes over 2 million assets, to preserve historic documents. The company has invested significantly in web3 infrastructure and is also set to launch a crypto wallet later this year, reinforcing its commitment to the digital future.

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