Beyond Content Digitization: A Smart Contract‐Based Solution for Ownership and Motivation in Online Learning (Course‐Chain)

ABSTRACT Introduction With the advancement of the digital age, traditional face‐to‐face education and training programs have been increasingly replaced by online courses, which consist of live digital lectures and pre‐recorded video content. However, although online course platforms have succeeded in digitizing the essential requirements of traditional ones, they remain insufficient in areas such as ownership declaration and the resale of courses. Aim This study aims to investigate the feasibility of a blockchain‐based online learning platform that integrates Non‐Fungible Tokens (NFTs), smart contracts, cryptocurrency payments, and InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). The proposed Course‐Chain platform is developed and evaluated to assess its architecture, core functionalities, secondary‐market mechanisms, decentralized certification process, and transaction‐cost characteristics. In addition, the study explores how blockchain‐based ownership, transparent transactions, and decentralized credential management can improve access to educational resources, support learner engagement, and foster a more trustworthy online learning environment. Methods The developed Course‐Chain platform offers features that enable second‐hand course sales, ensure transparency, support decentralization, and protect user data. To achieve this, the platform integrates Blockchain, NFTs, Cryptocurrency, IPFS, and Digital Wallet technologies in a unified manner. Within the proposed platform, a set of smart contracts was implemented using Solidity. Through the developed platform, students are provided with greater opportunities to try out courses, while new solutions have been proposed to enhance user trust by ensuring data security. Results On the Ethereum blockchain network, the total gas consumption for all transactions executed on the platform amounted to 722,768. The study's results demonstrate that the proposed IPFS‐based and blockchain‐based system operates successfully and remains open to future enhancements. Discussion Grounded in the research questions, the findings demonstrate that NFT‐based course ownership and secondary‐market transactions are technically feasible using ERC‐721 standards and smart contracts, enabling a configurable, creator‐defined resale mechanism. Regarding transaction costs, Layer‐2 solutions (Polygon) are shown to significantly enhance the economic viability of the architecture compared to the high‐fee Ethereum network. Furthermore, non‐transferable NFT credentials, combined with IPFS storage, effectively mitigate the risks of forgery and data loss while preserving user privacy. Despite the technical success, key limitations of the platform include the relatively high gas fees on the Ethereum network, the user learning curve associated with Web3 wallet management, and the lack of empirical validation regarding its pedagogical effects. Conclusions The primary objective of this study was to address the shortcomings of existing platforms by providing a more reliable, transparent, decentralized, and potentially motivating experience for both users and course creators. The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of the proposed architecture. It was also found that the proposed platform, due to its Ethereum‐based design, incurs relatively high gas fees. Therefore, migrating to the Polygon network has been considered for future developments, as empirical results indicate that such a transition would significantly reduce gas costs. Unlike prior decentralized education platforms, Course‐Chain contributes a configurable, creator‐defined framework combining optional resale restriction, supply control, and programmable royalties. That enables a flexible and regulated secondary market for course ownership.