Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for the digital authentication and/or digital enhancement of real-world physical items by integrating laser engraving, blockchain, optical scanning, multi-component code verification and information processing technologies to create permanent, secure, connected asset identifiers in both digital and physical formats for physical item anti-counterfeiting, anti-theft, item provenance and information storage applications. The present invention also relates to a system and method for the creation of unique non-fungible digital tokens which can be permanently connected or paired to unique physical items in the real world via the use of laser engraving techniques and multi-component information or QR code designs that are laser engraved on a physical item, and then optically scanned by anyone with a smartphone.