Japanese Government Awards NFTs to Local Authorities

NFT Rewards for Digital Innovation

The Japanese government has ventured into NFT rewards for local authorities to recognize the efforts to local governments solving local challenges using digital technology. The Cabinet Secretariat presented the awards during the "Summer Digi Denkoshien 2022" ceremony.

Seven mayors received NFT rewards for initiatives in their cities related to the digital economy. The awarded solutions included electric vehicles for local deliveries under the mayor of Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, and mobile device cameras to track traffic conditions changes in real-time by Maebashi of Gunma Province.

Fumio Kishida, the country's Prime Minister, also attended the event, according to Coinpost.

"Four companies supported this project: IndieSquare, bitFlyer Holdings, TREE Digital Studio, and Tomonari Kougei. IndieSquare's ‘HAZAMA BASE,’ which introduces the ability to issue and distribute NFTs with no code safely, was used," reported Coinpost.

It is the first case where the Cabinet Secretariat used NFTs for local recognition. The initiative utilized the Ethereum blockchain, but the NFTs were issued with a POAP design that is non-transferable and easy to use for commemoration and proof. It also attracted attention as a case of engraving on the blockchain.