Table 2.

Blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) — a sequential overview. This table provides a concise step-by-step breakdown of how blockchain and NFT function, especially in the context of medical data

Step	Description
1. Data creation	Medical data, be it imaging, genomic information, or patient records, is generated
2. Digital tokenization	This data is represented digitally, ready to be linked to a unique token
3. Blockchain initialization	A digital ledger, known as a blockchain, is set up to record transactions. This can be on existing platforms like Ethereum or newer healthcare-specific chains
4. NFT minting	A unique non-fungible token (NFT) is created (“minted”) to represent the specific piece of data. This process gives the data a unique identifier on the blockchain
5. NFT ownership	Once minted, the NFT is assigned to an owner, usually the patient or the institution that created the data
6. Data verification	Anytime the data is accessed or transferred, the blockchain verifies the authenticity and ownership using the NFT
7. Data sharing/selling	The owner can choose to share or sell the data. If sold, the NFT’s ownership can be transferred to the new owner
8. Royalties and resale	If the NFT is set up with royalties, any future sales or transfers ensure the original owner receives a percentage of the transaction
9. Data access control	The owner can grant or revoke access permissions to the data linked to the NFT
10. NFT destruction	If needed, NFTs can be “burned” or destroyed, removing their representation from the blockchain