Blockchain-Enabled Microtransactions for Digital Content Monetization: An Evaluation Framework

Abstract

-Digital content monetization has traditionally relied on centralized payment intermediaries that
impose high transaction fees, restrict cross-border accessibility, and limit revenue-sharing flexibility for creators.
These limitations disproportionately affect small-scale content contributors and emerging creators whose earnings
are highly sensitive to platform policies and payment thresholds. Blockchain-enabled microtransactions offer a
transformative paradigm by enabling low-cost, peer-to-peer, automated, and trustless value exchange. This paper
evaluates a smart contract-driven microtransaction architecture built on Ethereum Layer-2 networks, incorporating
decentralized identity (DID) and programmable payment logic to support frictionless monetization. We design a
prototype payment gateway that integrates rollup-based settlement, off-chain state channels, and tokenized access
rights to assess performance under real-world conditions. The proposed framework examines transaction
throughput, fee efficiency, latency, and transparency while analyzing creator empowerment and platform
sustainability within digital humanities ecosystems. The findings confirm that decentralized micro transactions can
significantly reduce overhead costs, enhance inclusivity, and stimulate fairer economic participation. The study
contributes a socio-technical evaluation model for future digital content systems.