NFTs
Vatican Library launches Soulbound NFT project for manuscript preservation
The Vatican Apostolic Library is using NFTs to engage supporters and preserve its manuscripts, in partnership with NTT DATA Italia.
What is the meaning: This project combines cultural heritage preservation with digital innovation, using NFTs to engage the community and provide access to historical manuscripts, Decrypt It is Catholic News Agency reported.
How it works:
- Sharing The “Web3 Support Project” earns users Silver NFTs, which unlock 15 manuscripts.
- Donors receive Gold NFTs, giving access to 21 manuscripts.
- These NFTs are non-transferable and permanently linked to a wallet. It’s a type of NFT called Soul-Bound Tokens.
Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons / “Vatican City (VA), Petersdom — 2013 — 3902” / CC BY-SA 4.0
Key Statistics: The Vatican Library has:
- 180,000 manuscripts
- 1,600,000 books printed
- 9,000 incunabula (first printed books)
- More than 300,000 coins and medals
- More than 150,000 prints, drawings and engravings
- More than 200,000 photographs
Just manuscripts will be turned into NFTs.
YetThe project is currently experimental and only available to Italian donors.
Key quote:
“The project aims to expand the online community of the Vatican Apostolic Library, connecting the cultural institution with its supporters through web3 technology.”
Vatican Library
Father Mauro Mantovani, prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library, also emphasized the importance of heritage preservation and highlighted NTT DATA’s help in making the library’s collections accessible and supporting research.
What is the next: The library can create immersive experiences in the future to visualize historical assets through extended reality.
[Read more: Former Pastor Launches ‘Project Ophir Crypto’ to Support Churches]
This article was published on BitPinas: Vatican Library launches NFT project to preserve manuscripts
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