In a groundbreaking move, the Vatican Library is leveraging NFTs to connect with supporters and expand its digital presence. The library, established in the 15th century, announced a partnership with NTT DATA Italia to issue NFTs to its supporters, according to a recent press release.
The initiative aims to enhance the online community of the Vatican Apostolic Library by utilizing Web3 technology. The library, which houses 180,000 manuscripts and over 1.5 million books, sees this as a modern approach to engaging with its audience.
The project, which started in Japan last year, is now expanding into Europe, beginning with Italy. Italian users who promote the “Web3 Support Project” on social media by July 16 will receive a Silver NFT, granting access to 15 different manuscripts. Additionally, donors to the library will be awarded a Gold NFT, offering access to 21 manuscripts. These NFTs are soulbound, meaning they are non-transferable and permanently linked to a digital wallet.
So far, the project has issued Polygon-based NFTs to 419 distinct owners, as seen on OpenSea. NTT DATA has been instrumental in the preservation of the library’s documents, with Prefect Don Mauro Mantovani highlighting the firm’s digital archiving service, AMLAD, which could be applied globally.
Since 2014, NTT DATA has been collaborating with the Vatican Library, managing over 2 million assets. The library’s building, dating back to the late 16th century, also preserves 200,000 photographs, 150,000 prints, and 300,000 coins and medals.
Ludovico Diaz, CEO of NTT DATA Italia, emphasized the goal of making the Vatican Library’s cultural heritage accessible to all. He expressed a commitment to continuing conservation efforts and extending blockchain technology to other sectors in the future.
This innovative project represents a fusion of tradition and modern technology, aiming to preserve and share the Vatican’s rich cultural legacy with a wider audience.