Towards Sustainable Education 4.0: Opportunities and Challenges of Decentralized Learning with Web3 Technologies

Breno Duarte (), Márcio Ferro (), Mohamed Yassine Zarouk, Alan Silva, Márcio Martins and Fábio Paraguaçu
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Breno Duarte: Industrial Engineering Program (PEI), Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-110, Brazil
Márcio Ferro: Informatics Department, Federal Institute of Alagoas, Maceió 57035-660, Brazil
Mohamed Yassine Zarouk: Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Alan Silva: Computing Institute (IC), Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57035-660, Brazil
Márcio Martins: Industrial Engineering Program (PEI), Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-110, Brazil
Fábio Paraguaçu: Computing Institute (IC), Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57035-660, Brazil

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-20

Abstract: Education 4.0 promotes active, personalized, and competency-based learning aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), yet most current platforms rely on centralized architectures that restrict access, agency, and adaptability. To address this problem, Web3 technologies—including blockchain, decentralized identifiers (DIDs), peer-to-peer storage, and smart contracts—enable the creation of platforms that uphold equity, data sovereignty, and pedagogical flexibility. This paper investigates how the convergence of Education 4.0 and Web3 technologies can drive the development of sustainable, inclusive, and learner-centered digital education systems. We examine two decentralized education platforms, EtherLearn and DeLMS, to assess their design affordances and limitations. Building on these insights, we propose a layered architectural framework grounded in sustainability principles. Our analysis shows that decentralized infrastructures can expand access in underserved regions, increase credential portability, empower learners with greater autonomy, and foster participatory governance through decentralized voting, token-based incentives, and community moderation. Despite these advantages, significant challenges remain around usability, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance. We conclude by identifying key research priorities at the intersection of sustainable educational technology, digital equity, and decentralized system design.

Keywords: Education 4.0; Web3; sustainable education; blockchain; decentralized learning; learning management systems; digital inclusion; smart contracts; peer-to-peer storage; credential portability; SDGs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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