Azrin Khan, a senior majoring in electrical and computer engineering, and Alena Novikova, a senior majoring in computer engineering and computer science, became interested in blockchain, a shared database that has stored data blocks linked via cryptocurrency technology, a few years prior but have now actively worked on their blockchain based technique for the past year. 

A few years ago when blockchain was on the rise, the pair attempted to take relevant classes at USC. Because of scheduling issues, they couldn’t sign up for the classes, so they resorted to teaching themselves. The two students found a textbook used in USC classes and learned the basic concepts of the technology, such as hash function and cache transactions.

With their newfound knowledge, the pair developed the idea of creating their own platform named SCTicket, to tackle the environmental issue connecting with ticketing platforms that are not blockchain based. With ticketing platforms releasing carbon emissions, the global temperature rises and leads to climate change. 

“We want to break this stereotype that engineering students can’t start something on their own or develop their own product,” Novikova said. “We want to make it visible that we have both the entrepreneurship skills and technical skills to make it happen.”

Khan and Novikova made SCTicket for users to sell or purchase tickets of their choosing, and it will also allow venues to put tickets up for sale for users to purchase. 

Current ticket sale platforms rely on digital payments, which create a large amount of carbon emissions, Novikova said. With rising demand for data centers or energy-intensive equipment there is an increase in energy use and carbon dioxide levels. 

“By basing our platform on the blockchain, we’re using polygon blockchain and those blockchains bring down carbon emissions to zero,” Novikova said. “So we are drastically reducing the negative impact on the environment.”

Khan said that from personal experience, along with seeing her fellow students struggle with buying and selling tickets for events, she has observed how current ticketing platforms have become free reign for scammers and have ruined the experience of buying tickets for an event.

“Students have no reliable place to resell their tickets and we see the messages popping up in chats that aren’t even meant for ticket reselling,” Novikova said. “So we really want to start by having this convenient, all-in-one place for students to resell their tickets.”

While creating a safe space for users to buy and sell their tickets without risk of scams, the two students said blockchain and cryptocurrency technology offers users increased security — because of the connection between the blockchains making it nearly impossible to hack — and eliminates high fees that they experience on other ticket platforms. 

“Once they see the advantages and benefits of using blockchain technology for financial transactions, they’re gonna start using and widely adopting this technology,” Novikova said.

Khan and Novikova hope to share their project around USC first because the University is the initial inspiration for developing the platform. With the help of the student population, they hope to partner with venues and give them the ability to put their tickets up on SCTicket for people to use on an everyday basis. 

“Our other goal is to bridge the gap between blockchain technology and everyday users,” Novikova said. “Once they see the advantages of using blockchain by offering increased security and eliminating high fees, people are going to see the benefit of switching to crypto wallets.” 

On Nov. 1, Khan and Novikova will begin conducting a series of workshops in partnership with Women in Engineering to introduce the concept of blockchain and also raise women’s representation in tech. 

The workshops are set up to educate and encourage students to go through different concepts and benefits of a digital wallet. Khan and Novikova hope to give engineering and non engineering students the confidence to create their own projects, as they wish they had earlier in their schooling. 

“Throughout these four years we have been taught to solve problems,” Khan said. “And that’s what we do best.”