Time stamp and immutability as key factors for the application of blockchain in the cultural sector

In recent years, blockchain, a new and potentially disruptive technology, has come to the fore. Despite its widespread use in several fields, it is in the cultural sector that it can offer numerous advantages. The implementation of a blockchain system could make the traditional art market less opaque by recording data on an encrypted and immutable register, and its use could also improve the circulation of works of art, encourage their collection, and promote a new form of ownership. This chapter highlights the features of blockchain that make it suitable for the management and enhancement of cultural heritage, consider- ing the different fields of application as well as the way in which it can be integrated to support the sale and management of cultural assets and to develop new business models for cultural and creative firms.