The Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation has launched a blockchain-based platform intended to make it easier for Muslims around the world to take part in the foundation's scientific and technological programs, according to a report.

The Tehran-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 Mustafa Prize, awarded biennially since 2015 to top scientists and technologists from Organization of Islamic Cooperation member countries, is one of the most prominent science awards in the Muslim world.

The platform is designed to offer digital-asset holders a more transparent and efficient way to direct funds toward clearly defined scientific activities. Through blockchain and smart contracts, the initiative aims to link cryptocurrency assets with specific scientific projects while allowing funding conditions to be set 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 connecting digital assets with tangible investment opportunities. He noted that some individuals and businesses had converted part of their assets into cryptocurrencies but struggled to find practical, clearly structured projects where those holdings could be put to use. Salehi is a former foreign minister of Iran and previously headed the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, giving the foundation high-level political and scientific connections.

The move also comes amid a broader trend of crypto philanthropy, in which charities and foundations worldwide have begun accepting digital-asset donations, attracted by blockchain's public ledgers and the ability to route cross-border transfers without traditional banking intermediaries.

Smart Contracts Could Improve Funding Transparency

A central 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 has 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 letting participants understand how and when their contributions would be deployed.

The foundation views 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.

Depending on how the platform develops, projects in areas such as cancer treatment, water management, energy, artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies could eventually benefit from the model.

Proposal for Global Network of Science Patrons

Salehi has also proposed creating a Global Network of Patrons of Science to complement the scientific network the foundation has built 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: 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 goal is to reduce the 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 worldwide.

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. Key open questions include how the platform will handle regulatory compliance for cryptocurrency donations across jurisdictions and which scientific projects will be the first to receive funding through the system.

Source: CoinTrust