III Decentralized Smart Contracts

The paradigm wherein consumers remunerate to acquire SBTs as content access credentials necessitates the implementation of decentralized smart contracts [8].

Originating as an innovation of Ethereum, decentralized smart contracts are capable of autonomously executing intricate behaviors related to the generation and transaction of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) through programming. This domain has experienced substantial growth, with numerous public blockchains now equipped with the capability for programmable smart contracts.

The deployment of these contracts is not restricted to any single blockchain. Instead, they offer the flexibility to be operational on various blockchains, thus enabling creators to elect their preferred chain for publishing their works. This approach allows creators to manage consumer payments and dispense SBTs as authorizations for content access. Consequently, consumers are empowered to access specific content utilizing these tokens.

A critical feature of this decentralized smart contract system is its inherent functionality to process payments and issue soul-bound tokens, serving as verifiable content access credentials. This characteristic is pivotal in facilitating a seamless and secure content consumption experience within the blockchain environment.