International Journal of Educational Technology and Artificial Intelligence

An Analysis of Popular NFT Types and Leading Marketplaces: A Mixed-Methods Study

Luka Novak — 2025-08-31

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have emerged as a transformative component of the digital economy by enabling the ownership, authentication, and exchange of unique digital assets through blockchain technology. This study aims to identify the most popular NFT categories and determine the leading NFT marketplace based on user preferences and market performance. A mixed-methods approach was employed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the NFT ecosystem. Quantitative data were obtained from transaction records, sales volumes, trading activities, and platform metrics from major NFT marketplaces. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with NFT creators, collectors, and marketplace managers to explore user experiences and perceptions. The results indicate that digital art NFTs remain the most popular category because of their strong cultural influence, high transaction volumes, and broad market appeal. Gaming-related NFTs rank second, reflecting the growing integration of blockchain technology into the gaming industry. OpenSea was identified as the leading marketplace in terms of market share, accessibility, and user satisfaction. The findings contribute to a better understanding of consumer behavior, marketplace competition, and the ongoing development of the NFT ecosystem in the rapidly expanding digital asset industry..

Leveraging Blockchain for Cross-Border Payments in the BRICS Nations

Roseline Roseline — 2025-08-31

Cross-border payment systems among the BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—face persistent challenges, including high transaction costs, lengthy settlement times, dependence on intermediaries, limited transparency, and currency conversion inefficiencies. These barriers can increase the financial burden on businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as individuals engaged in international transactions. Blockchain technology offers a decentralized, secure, and transparent alternative that could improve the efficiency of cross-border payments by reducing intermediaries, automating transaction processes, and enabling faster settlement. This study investigates the potential of blockchain technology to streamline cross-border payments among BRICS nations using a mixed-method approach. Quantitative analysis examines transaction costs and payment processing times, while qualitative analysis incorporates insights from industry experts concerning technological, regulatory, and operational factors. The findings indicate that blockchain-enabled payment solutions could potentially reduce settlement times from several days to less than one hour and decrease transaction fees by up to 60%. Blockchain may also strengthen financial inclusion by improving access to affordable international payment services for SMEs and underserved populations. However, regulatory harmonization, interoperability, cybersecurity, technological readiness, and institutional cooperation remain significant challenges. The study recommends coordinated regulatory frameworks, common technical standards, pilot projects, and investment in digital infrastructure to support responsible adoption while maintaining financial stability and compliance.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for NFT Creation: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions

Marko Babić — 2025-08-31

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have emerged as an important innovation in the digital asset ecosystem, enabling verifiable ownership, authenticity, and provenance of unique digital content through blockchain technology. The development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has further transformed NFT creation by allowing creators to produce digital artworks, music, animations, and virtual assets rapidly and at unprecedented scale. This study investigates the intersection of AI-generated content and NFT technology, focusing on technical workflows, creative opportunities, market development, and regulatory implications. A mixed-method approach combines qualitative interviews with NFT creators and quantitative analysis of AI-generated NFT market trends to identify adoption patterns, opportunities, challenges, and barriers. The findings highlight AI’s potential to enhance creative productivity, reduce production time, and diversify digital content. However, copyright ownership, intellectual property protection, authenticity, ethical considerations, market volatility, and regulatory uncertainty remain significant challenges. The study proposes strategies for responsible and sustainable integration of AI within the evolving NFT ecosystem

Ethical Research Using Artificial Intelligence: Principles, Challenges, and Best Practices

Liu Liu — 2025-08-31

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the research landscape by enabling large-scale data analysis, process automation, pattern recognition, and predictive modeling across diverse academic disciplines. However, the increasing integration of AI into research introduces significant ethical challenges, including algorithmic bias, lack of transparency, data privacy, accountability, intellectual property, and potential misuse of automated systems. This paper examines the ethical dimensions of AI-driven research by reviewing existing ethical frameworks, empirical studies, and practical case examples concerning the responsible use of AI in academic research. The study identifies key principles required to promote responsible AI adoption, including fairness, transparency, explainability, privacy protection, human oversight, accountability, and inclusivity. Based on these findings, the paper proposes a structured ethical governance model that can guide researchers and institutions in assessing, implementing, and monitoring AI technologies throughout the research process. The proposed model emphasizes human-centered decision-making and continuous ethical evaluation to ensure that technological innovation contributes to scientific advancement without compromising human rights, equity, research integrity, or public trust.

Exploring Instagram as an Educational Tool: Student Insights and Perspectives

Angelo Bautista — 2025-08-31

Social media platforms have increasingly become integrated into students’ everyday lives and have created new opportunities for educational communication and learning. Instagram, in particular, provides visual, interactive, and accessible features that can support knowledge sharing, student engagement, and informal learning. This study explores students’ insights and perspectives regarding Instagram as an educational tool. A mixed-method approach combines quantitative questionnaire data with qualitative responses concerning students’ experiences, perceived benefits, challenges, and preferences regarding Instagram-based learning activities. Previous studies indicate that Instagram can support student engagement, communication, motivation, and participation when strategically integrated into educational activities [1]–[4]. However, social-media-based learning also presents challenges related to distraction, privacy, information credibility, digital literacy, and pedagogical appropriateness [5]–[8]. This study focuses on accessibility, visual learning, interaction, motivation, information credibility, and responsible use. The findings provide practical insights for educators seeking to integrate Instagram into formal and informal learning environments while maintaining academic quality and meaningful student engagement.