The Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation has launched a blockchain-based platform designed to make it easier for Muslims worldwide to participate in the foundation’s scientific and technological programs, according to a report.
The Tehran (Iran)-based foundation unveiled the platform on Saturday, introducing a system that combines cryptocurrencies, smart contracts and new financing mechanisms to facilitate international participation in initiatives including the Mustafa Prize and other research and technology projects.
The platform is intended to provide a more transparent and efficient way for digital-asset holders to direct funds toward clearly defined scientific activities. By using blockchain and smart contracts, the initiative aims to connect cryptocurrency assets with specific scientific projects while allowing funding conditions to be established and automatically enforced.
Ali-Akbar Salehi, chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, said the growth of cryptocurrency ownership had created a need for mechanisms that could connect digital assets with tangible investment opportunities. He noted that some individuals and businesses had converted part of their assets into cryptocurrencies but faced difficulties identifying practical and clearly structured projects where those holdings could be used.
Smart Contracts Could Improve Funding Transparency
A key feature of the new platform is the ability to establish predetermined conditions for the release and use of funds. Under the proposed system, a contributor could require that money become available only after a specified event, milestone or research outcome had been achieved.
Smart contracts would then automatically execute the agreed conditions, reducing the need for intervention outside the established framework. According to the report, the approach could improve transparency by allowing participants to understand how and when their contributions would be deployed.
The foundation sees the technology as a potential bridge between international digital-asset holders and scientific initiatives that require targeted financial support. Rather than making an unrestricted contribution to an institution, participants could potentially identify a particular scientific problem, research team and intended outcome before committing funds.
Projects in areas such as cancer treatment, water management, energy, artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies could eventually benefit from the model, depending on how the platform develops.
Proposal for Global Network of Science Patrons
Salehi has also proposed creating a Global Network of Patrons of Science to complement the scientific network that the foundation has developed over the years.
The proposed network would seek to connect individuals interested in supporting research with scientists and projects across Muslim-majority countries and the broader international scientific community. Salehi argued that scientific knowledge is not restricted by national borders and that international cooperation remains essential for advancing research.
The foundation’s Mustafa Prize was established with a similar objective of connecting scientific capabilities in the Muslim world with the international research community. The new patron network would extend that concept into scientific financing by giving individuals a more direct role in supporting researchers and projects.
Salehi said the initiative’s broader objective was to reduce geographical barriers that can make international scientific participation difficult. The foundation intends to use digital assets and emerging financial technologies to make cross-border support for researchers and scientific projects more accessible to individuals around the world.
The initiative could also have implications beyond fundraising. The foundation believes that transparent international financing of specific research projects could help strengthen relationships among scientists, institutions and supporters while contributing to scientific diplomacy.
The initial focus is expected to remain on supporting defined scientific projects connected to Muslim countries through contributions from individuals worldwide. If the model gains traction, the blockchain platform could develop into a broader funding network linking digital-asset holders with research and innovation initiatives across multiple fields.