The Future of Digital Media Ownership

Version: 1.0 (June 10, 2024)

By: Joshua Stone

Contributing Editors: Ben Illian, RJ Regenold, Phillip Simons

Abstract

Consumers lack true ownership of their digital assets (books, music, videos, etc.) because they unknowingly purchase a “license to access content” rather than the actual content itself. This restricts them from selling, giving away, or lending their media. Centralized retailers and creators retain the power to alter or remove content without notifying the purchaser. Moreover, if a consumer cancels a centralized service, they lose access to their purchased digital media. These centralized retailers also assume ownership over the consumers, prohibiting creators from freely communicating with their audience and often preventing access to basic consumer data. Media licensing systems, established over two decades ago, are now outdated with the advent of Web3 technologies. Creators seek fair compensation for their products and the ability to connect directly with their audiences. Consumers seek ownership of their digital assets and agency over their media. Stuff.io utilizes Decentralized Encrypted Assets (DEAs), which establish genuine digital asset ownership, revolutionizing the industry for both consumers and creators.

1. The Problem

You don’t own your digital stuff.

Creators struggle to earn sufficient income with current licensing models and lack a direct connection to their audience.

Customers do not own their digital media, so they cannot sell, lend, or give it away.

The rapid transition from physical media to digital formats in the early 2000s fundamentally transformed how we consume and “own” media. Traditionally, physical media like CDs, DVDs, and books were purchased outright, giving buyers tangible ownership. However, with the rise of digital media, this model changed dramatically. Today, when consumers buy digital content such as eBooks, audiobooks, music, movies, and games, they typically purchase licenses rather than owning the actual content. This licensing model significantly limits user rights: consumers cannot share, resell, or modify their purchased content, and they risk losing access if the provider changes its terms or goes out of business.

The Problems with Current Digital Media Ownership

1. Lack of True Ownership

• Licensing vs. Ownership: When consumers purchase digital content, they typically buy a license to access the content rather than owning the content itself. This distinction is crucial because consumers do not have permanent rights to the media they purchase.

• Revocable Access: Service providers retain the right to revoke or alter access to digital content. This could happen if the provider goes out of business, changes its terms of service, or loses the rights to distribute certain content.

2. Restrictions on Use

• Inability to Share, Sell, or Lend: Unlike physical media, which can be freely shared, resold, or lent, digital content is often locked to the original purchaser. Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies enforce these restrictions, preventing users from transferring their media.

• Limited Interoperability: Digital media often have restrictions that limit how and where the content can be used. For example, an eBook purchased from one retailer is not readable on a different brand of eReader.

3. Vulnerability to Changes

• Centralized Control: Digital content is stored on servers controlled by service providers, making it susceptible to removal or alteration. Providers can delete content, alter files, or block access based on business needs or external pressures.

• Dependency on Providers: Users’ access to their digital media is entirely dependent on the continued operation and policies of the service providers. This creates a precarious situation where consumers could lose access to their purchased content if the provider faces legal, financial, or technical issues.

4. Privacy and Control Issues

• Data Privacy: Centralized digital media storage often involves service providers collecting and storing personal data. This raises significant privacy concerns, as users’ media consumption habits and personal information can be accessed, shared, or exploited by providers.

• Security Risks: Centralized systems are also targets for cyberattacks, which can lead to data breaches and unauthorized access to users’ personal information and media libraries.

By addressing these issues and exploring innovative new technology solutions, we can move towards a digital media landscape that better respects consumer rights and creator needs, fostering a more equitable and sustainable ecosystem for all stakeholders.

2. The Solution

Stuff.io is poised to revolutionize the digital media market by enabling creators to sell their work directly to their audiences as blockchain-based encrypted assets, shifting away from traditional business models.

Driving Mass-Market Adoption

Stuff.io focuses on digital assets that people already purchase — eBooks, audiobooks, music, movies, and games — but offers them as blockchain-based encrypted assets that customers genuinely own and control.

User-Friendly Onboarding

Users can create accounts with an email and password, generate a self-directed wallet, and make purchases with credit cards, providing a seamless Web2 experience.

Real World Digital Assets (RWdA)

Starting with familiar digital assets like eBooks and music, Stuff.io aims to onboard billions of users who currently purchase digital media but do not truly own it. This approach helps users understand the broader applications of blockchain technology.

Benefits for Creators

Stuff.io allows professional creators to sell their content directly to consumers, ensuring fair compensation and incentivizing high-quality content creation, unlike licensing models that devalue creators’ work.

Verified Digital Origin (VDO)

Stuff.io uses AI and blockchain to introduce Verified Digital Origin (VDO), ensuring the authenticity and provenance of digital assets, addressing counterfeiting concerns.

Blockchain-Based DRM

All assets on the Stuff.io platform are Decentralized Encrypted Assets (DEAs), which leverage a new type of Digital Rights Management (DRM) which protects the creator’s work so that only the consumer who owns the asset can view its contents.

SocialFi for Professionals

Stuff.io combines social networking with financial and distribution tools tailored to the needs of full-time creators like artists, musicians, writers, and videographers. It fosters community building, collaboration, audience engagement and offers monetization options, crowdfunding, and royalty management, along with analytics to help creators grow their careers.

Multi-Chain Strategy

Stuff.io employs a multi-chain strategy, utilizing chains such as Ethereum, Polygon, Cardano, Algorand, and Base, focusing on interoperability without requiring users to understand technical details.

Three Eras of Media Ownership

1. Physical Media Era: Consumers owned physical copies of media.

2. Digital Licensing Era: Media was purchased as licenses with restricted ownership rights.

3. Blockchain-Based True Ownership Era: Consumers own digital assets recorded on the blockchain, ensuring complete control and flexibility.

Blockchain-Based Decentralized Encrypted Assets

Key Advantages:

• True Ownership: Blockchain ensures complete ownership and control.

• Decentralized Storage: Enhances data security and privacy.

• Enhanced Security: Robust protection against unauthorized access.

• Greater Flexibility: Users can share, sell, or transfer digital assets.

Potential Applications:

• Audio and Music: Users can buy and truly own digital music, audiobooks, and podcasts.
• Video Content: Movies, TV shows, documentaries, and VR/AR experiences can be owned as digital assets.
• Text Content: eBooks, blogs, newsletters, emails, articles, coupons, and documents (including legal, tax, accounting, and title documents) can be securely owned and shared.
• Personal Media: Photos and videos taken by users can be securely stored and owned outright, including personal social media content.
• Games: Video games and in-game assets can be owned and traded.

Stuff for Consumers: Why People Will Care About True Digital Ownership

• Control: Complete ownership and no revocations.

• Trustless Environment: Immutable records and transparency.

• Agency: Transferability and market opportunities.

• Access: Exclusive content and direct creator interaction.

• Collecting: Building digital libraries and collectible value.

Stuff for Creators: Empowering Creators with True Digital Ownership

Challenges Creators Face:

• Lack of direct-to-consumer access.

• No access to customer data.

• No participation in secondary markets.

• Inadequate IP protection in existing Web3 solutions.

Benefits of Digital Ownership for Creators:

• Control Over Digital Inventory: Autonomy and rights management.

• Direct-to-Consumer Access: Eliminate middlemen and gain customer insights.

• Access to Consumer Data: Anonymized interaction data and consumption analytics.

• New Marketing and Merchandising Opportunities: Targeted campaigns and retargeting.

• Royalties on Secondary Sales: Perpetual royalties and smart contracts.

Enabling Creators to Create Experiences:

Stuff.io frees creators to focus on creating unique experiences and content without traditional constraints, enhancing engagement and innovation.

The Future of Media is Freeing Creators and Consumers:

Stuff.io empowers creators with tools and opportunities to build direct relationships with their audience, monetize effectively, and innovate freely, paving the way for a more equitable and dynamic digital media landscape.

3. The Technology

Our technology facilitates the creation of fully decentralized and DRM-encrypted assets, termed Decentralized Encrypted Assets or “DEAs.”

DEAs encompass books, audio, music, and videos stored entirely on-chain, eliminating token-gated licensing alternatives.

These assets are immutable, possess programmable capabilities, and are accessible solely to their designated owners.

Our patent-pending technology establishes DEAs with a proprietary blockchain-based Decentralized Digital Rights Management (DDRM), ensuring exclusive access only for asset owners.

Aren’t there already existing Books, Music, and Video on-chain?

There have been some attempts at putting books and music onto a blockchain.

The first iterations consisted of uploading publicly viewable files to a decentralized file storage system like IPFS and then associating an NFT’s metadata to point to that file location. This method is dangerous as the link and metadata are public, and anyone with the file address has access to the media. There is no DRM or IP protection for the content — and most importantly, this cannot be undone or deleted. This essentially means the media has been given away forever for free. This method would never work for professional Creators because their livelihood depends on selling their media and only allowing the owner access to the content.

A second way that some attempts to put media on-chain have occurred is to effectively build a duplicate of what exists in Web2 with a consumer account having access to a centralized media file; however, using an NFT as the access key to unlock the gated content. The primary issue with this solution is that it is really just equivalent to password sharing. The media file is still centralized and susceptible to removal or editing, and because this would still fall under a content licensing model, ultimately, there is still no true digital ownership. If the centralized system goes down or fails, or if licensing rights change for the media, then all access is lost. The end consumer, while still owning an NFT, has access to nothing but a receipt for a purchase that no longer exists.

The third way is royalty fractionalization, which doesn’t necessarily address changing the media itself or the existing licensing structure but rather a further expansion of it. In these models, the streaming royalties have a portion dedicated to holders of an NFT who jointly own some percentage of the overall royalties that are due. The primary issue with this model is that the current licensing models do not produce any relevant amount of revenue for the artist. Artists such as Snoop Dogg have publicly complained that after one billion streams, he received a royalty check for only $40,000 USD. If even that amount was split among 10,000 holders of a streaming NFT, they could hope for a $4 return. Said differently, even for a top-tier artist, that would be around $0.00004 per stream. Some estimates put individual streams around $0.005. However, the vast majority of all artists on streaming services never make any money — which is not news to anyone. Granted, those royalties are compounding, and there will still be a place for streaming and discovery — but this is not a relevant solution to help artists earn more. It only further complicates and divides up the small amount of revenue an artist should have earned. Additionally, in many territories, this is considered a security by its very function and is prohibited from being sold to unaccredited retail investors by government agencies like the SEC in the United States.

Stuff.io believes that Creators should be paid for their work and earn money on the art they create. The Stuff.io DEAs are unlike any previous attempt at storing media on-chain and instead are true and verifiable ownership of a fully decentralized and encrypted asset.

The Next Generation of Utility

The first generation of NFTs was very basic and merely had a singular token with a metalink to an image that was stored in decentralized storage. This very quickly evolved into the second generation of NFTs, which focused on collectible digital images and assets. However, these assets were all publicly viewable, and effectively, consumers were only buying a receipt for the item to show that they had ownership of it. Often, these images/asset-based NFTs give consumers access to private social channels or early access to purchase other items — but that is primarily the extent of their functionality.

The market experienced a significant decline in the popularity of NFTs as public image assets. However, the core functionality of using NFTs as part of infrastructure presents a much larger enterprise application. By creating fully decentralized and encrypted assets on the blockchain, accessible only by the asset owner, this infrastructure has been repurposed for broader use cases.

As of March 2024, there were just over 46 million Bitcoin wallets worldwide that contained at least $1 in value. This likely means there are far fewer total consumers within the crypto market. However, there are over 1.1 billion individual consumers who purchase digital books each year. In fact, digital books are the largest singular digital item that are purchased on a per-unit basis.

As music and video have transitioned primarily to subscription streaming services, the opportunity to bring value back to purchasing these assets is immense. This shift can open a revenue stream that has not existed in decades while directly enhancing the value of the creators’ work. Meanwhile, digital books have continued to be sold as a la carte purchases, with over 30 million different titles available. With some titles selling only hundreds of units and others selling millions, it’s clear there will soon be billions of digital book DEAs.

According to Statista, over 616 million people stream music, and there are 3.48 billion video viewers worldwide. Shockingly, consumers do not actually own any of this media, and in most cases, the creators earn nothing or only micro-payments. The path to mass adoption of blockchain technology lies not in forcing people to learn about blockchain but in integrating blockchain benefits into the digital products they already consume.

This paradigm shift towards true digital ownership in digital media will fundamentally alter rights-protected content and current business models. To advance professional digital media into the Web3 era, they must adopt encryption principles and Digital Rights Management (DRM) schemes to safeguard their intellectual property and uniqueness. All Stuff.io media is fully encrypted and stored in decentralized storage.

A key issue, when compared to previous on-chain solutions, is that consumers purchasing media DEA’s need a fulfillment platform. Once you own digital media, you must be able to view and access its contents. This cannot be done through a metadata structure, as it would exceed protocol block limits, be slow, and not encrypted. However, small chunks of encrypted media can be stored in decentralized storage, with the content decrypting and reassembling within the media viewer dApp and mobile apps.

Decentralized Encrypted Assets (DEAs)

Decentralized Encrypted Assets are a further expansion of blockchain technology beyond the current paradigm. The simplest definition of a DEA is that it uses a combination of Web3 technology to produce a unique DRM-protected digital asset. Figure 1 breaks down each of the contributing components:

• Blockchain is used for immutable and trustless recordkeeping

• Decentralized storage is used to stream content, so there is no single point of failure or centralized content controller

• Smart Contracts are used to define the rules for how the digital book will work and payout

• Tokens are used to verify ownership and contain instructions to decrypt the book so that only the person who owns the book can read or listen to it

• DRM encryption is used, which is much more advanced than any current standard

• Artificial Intelligence is used in several ways for content, graphics, data processing, and code creation

How DEAs Work

Below, Figure 2 shows the basic construct of a DEA:

The NFT itself contains an encrypted string that references metadata and links to public and private files, which are all then used to decrypt and reassemble the file and make them viewable within the fulfillment dApp.

In the following Figure 3, content is ingested into the Stuff.io system. From there, the files are broken into smaller shards to help load faster and add additional security. Both public metadata and encrypted data are uploaded to decentralized storage so that media cannot be destroyed or altered. A token is generated with an encrypted key file to access a manifest file with all the contents and have the ability to decrypt that particular asset. Finally, the smart contract is programmed to contain the proper royalty/commission structures.

All the files are stored on decentralized storage and are accessible via a linked DEA that was created. Consumers can then open this DEA within the Stuff.io or Book.io Decentralized Applications (dApp). The instructions within the token fetch the encrypted key file, allowing access to the manifest where all the files are located. This process is handled by a function called the “Librarian.” The files are pulled down, decrypted, and reassembled. The file is then viewable within the Media Viewer dApp.

Decentralized Digital Rights Management (DDRM)

Standard Web2 Digital Rights Management (DRM) is how legal access is granted to digitally licensed content and is standard practice within digital media industries. For DRM to exist, it requires 1) a licensing agreement with the Content/IP Owner and 2) encryption to prevent counterfeiting or duplication.

Most developed countries’ laws criminalize DRM encryption circumvention (such as the United States Digital Millennium Copyright Act, commonly known as DMCA). However, it is relatively easy to break the DRM encryption in many cases. This has been a problem for some time and has led to financial losses for Creators.

While DRM standards were effectively in place to prevent file duplication, that is no longer the case when you define DRM within an immutable blockchain where each asset has a unique and verifiable indicator created when it is minted. Through this production method, each asset has an exact provenance. Further, the Media Viewer dApp verifies that the Policy ID and Asset Fingerprint are whitelisted, which prevents any unauthorized or unlicensed versions from being able to be opened and decrypted and can be tied to a Decentralized Identifier (DID) to further verify that the asset is authentic and from a valid creator.

Stuff.io DRM uses a combination of symmetric (AES256) and asymmetric (EdDSA and ECDH) encryption. Each policy ID/asset name combination uses a randomly generated key pair (asset key pair) to encrypt all its sharded assets. These assets are stored on a decentralized file system. The asset key pair is then encrypted with another randomly generated key pair (publication key pair). The encrypted asset key pair is stored on the decentralized file system, while the publication key pair is stored with the Librarian, with which will also be decentralized and governed by a DAO.

Multi-chain Technology

Having previously worked with thousands of different authors and publishers, the Book.io team already understood that creators would have specific blockchains they would want their content to exist on — instead of forcing all creators onto a single blockchain. The same applies to other media creators as well. So, all of the technology that has been created for DEAs and the dApp Media Viewer was created to be blockchain agnostic and to support multiple blockchains.

The initial blockchain that the Book.io platform launched on was Cardano because it was the leading Proof-of-Stake blockchain. Cardano was founded by one of the original co-founders of Ethereum, Charles Hoskinson, and has a high number of active developers. Its primary smart contract language is written in Haskell, a leading functional programming language with which the Book.io team was very familiar.

As expansion to other blockchains continued, DEA’s have now also launched on Ethereum, Polygon, Base, and Algorand — with future plans to launch on other select blockchains when a business case arises.

Each blockchain presents unique features along with distinct pros and cons, so it is necessary to allow Creators to choose what blockchain(s) best matches with the exact business goals of their project.

Stuff.io works with Proof-of-Stake (POS) blockchains for a variety of reasons:

• Unit economics and fee structures: When you consider that the average price of a trade eBook is $8-$12 USD, network fees have to be low. This can vary for certain collectible-only books at higher price points where they can exist on more expensive networks; however, for true mass adoption of billions of users, the fees must be insignificant.
• Creator requirements: Multiple enterprise content creators and IP owners have corporate mandates that any blockchain-related assets they engage with must be with a POS blockchain because of the environmental impact. Publishers, for instance, are conscious of the fact that they cut trees down to manufacture paper books; however, they do have replanting and regenerative processes in place and do not want to contribute to what they refer to as “dirty chains,” which may include higher energy-consuming Proof-of-Work (POW) blockchains.
• Speed to finality: Mass market adoption demands that blockchains must settle transactions quickly because the average non-crypto consumers expect near instant settlement and digital product delivery.

More broadly, Stuff.io’s plan to reach billions of consumers will require a multi-chain approach. Ultimately, end consumers who are not crypto-natives do not care about what blockchain(s) their assets are minted on.

Currently, the DEA minting generator and Media Viewer dApp function on each integrated blockchain, providing Creators with choices and freedom regarding how they create their DEA assets. Creating the core DEA and consumption technology that is chain-agnostic allows the capacity to onboard other blockchains in the future based on changing Creator and Consumer needs.

Collectibles to Mass Trade Editioning

When discussing how specific blockchains have different purposes, it is also essential to consider that there is a spectrum of different types of assets with different needs. DEA assets can exist in the following manner:

• Non-Fungible Assets: These assets are unique and can vary in their level of uniqueness. It could be that they are merely numbered and all have the same cover artwork, or it could be that they all have unique covers for every single asset in an edition. For non-fungible assets, an exact number of copies are created and constitute that particular edition. For highly collectible editions, the total supply might be very low, while for Mass Trade editions, the total supply could be very large yet still uniquely and individually numbered.
• Fungible eBook/Audiobook: This is very similar to how a run of print books, vinyl records, or DVDs are created in that they are all identical within that particular edition. In this instance, assets are not numbered, and one media asset is effectively identical to another within its edition. These could be created within a singular transaction, and thus, they are functionally (and technically) the same. However, in this example, there is no additional value in the uniqueness of each individual book, but the value is solely derived because there is an exact finite supply of units, and the true value is that it is a media asset, just like any physical media asset.
• Supply and Editioning: There are various unique ways to control supply using DEAs. Assets could have an exact supply, much like a physical edition of a media. They could also be time-bound so that an unlimited number of assets could be created within a defined time period. Once that window expired, the number of assets minted would represent the total supply of assets in that edition — everything from very limited to effectively unlimited supplies are possible. Additionally, there can be an automatic or manual election to create multiple future editions of assets, similar to doing reprinted runs of books or albums based on popularity. If, for instance, a first edition of a book quickly sold out, a second edition (and so on) could be created at a higher volume with the same or different characteristics. All of these elements could contribute to value, but the primary value is still the actual media contents of the asset.

4. The Token

The utility token began as $BOOK token because reading is broken.

A study by Digital Book World estimated that only 60 percent of books bought are ever opened. A study by Literacy Inc. estimated that 50 percent of books started are never read to completion. This would mean that 70 percent of books that are sold are never read.

• 33% of U.S. high school graduates never read a book after high school

• 80% of U.S. families have not purchased a book this year

• 70% of adults have not been in a bookstore in the past five years

We believe that what gets incentivized gets done. While the $BOOK token began as a means to incentivize reading, a broader application of the token will still enable the ability to reward reading, and simultaneously expand the utility to help empower creators to create content, while enabling a reward system across all media types and not just books.

Token Purpose & Utility

Having a native token for the Stuff.io ecosystem has a multitude of benefits. The $STUFF token can be viewed as stored or potential consumption energy.

Primary uses include:

Creators

• $STUFF tokens will be used to create DEAs. The system will be dependent on Creators acquiring and spending $STUFF in order to create DEA assets for sale
• $STUFF tokens are used to pay certain royalties to Creators and other delegates
• $STUFF tokens are used to access the Consumption Analytic Platform
• $STUFF tokens are needed to utilize the Enterprise Advertising Platform by Creators wishing to market to their audiences

Consumers

• $STUFF tokens will power the Consume to Earn™ System
• $STUFF tokens can be used to purchase certain specific new media
• $STUFF tokens can be used to purchase certain specific media at a discounted rate
• $STUFF tokens can be used to “tip” Creators
• $STUFF tokens can be earned for lending assets from person to person
• $STUFF token rewards can be delegated to other consumers or causes
• $STUFF tokens are used within the Stuff.io Marketplace and Secondary Marketplace to reduce fees that other 3rd party marketplaces and exchanges charge
• $STUFF tokens are the only acceptable form of payment for certain specific assets
• $STUFF tokens are the only acceptable form of payment for certain specific merchandise, both digital and physical
• $STUFF tokens may be required by certain Creators to access exclusive social channels within Stuff.io
• $STUFF tokens may be used to tip other users for reviews

Token History & Next Phase

Version 1 (V1) (2021)

On June 2, 2021, a fixed supply of 10,000,000,000 (10 Billion) non-divisible $BOOK tokens were minted as native-based Cardano tokens as a Read-to-Earn™ Loyalty Utility Token. The original transaction for this is available for review at: http://bit.ly/3xyxaeu

Version 2 (V2) (2023)

On June 9, 2023, a fixed supply of 10,000,000,000.000000 (10 Billion) divisible $BOOK tokens was minted as a native-based Cardano token to replace the original V1 $BOOK token, which was non-divisible. The original transaction for this is available for review at: http://bit.ly/3XuDvWx

Version 3 (V3) (2024)

The V2 $BOOK token utility and functionality will be further expanded and utilized by the Stuff.io platform as well as the Book.io platform. There will not be a new token creation event for Stuff.io. Instead, the $BOOK Token will be renamed to $STUFF token and utilized across all media types. The $STUFF token will be a Consume-to-Earn™ token.

This utilization and transition will occur in multiple phases:

1. $BOOK accepted on Stuff.io

Initially, $BOOK will be accepted as a form of payment for certain assets on the Stuff.io platform.

2. Renaming $BOOK to $STUFF

Similar to other tokens (like Polygon changing its native token to $MATIC), the metadata for the existing $BOOK token will be updated to the name $STUFF. It will retain the original Policy ID with the same Contract and the same fixed volume of 10B tokens that currently exist. As the Cardano Token Registry is a centralized system controlled by the Cardano Foundation, this change will take place within their system and across all instances of $BOOK, whereby it will instead render the designator as the $STUFF token name. It is worth mentioning that this does not change the original policy or contract in any way — and on-chain in the original contract, it will still list “BOOK” as the original abbreviation that was inserted — thus, this is only a metadata enhancement to how it renders across DEX’s, CEX’s, and dApps.

This expansion of the token to support all media formats — still including eBooks and Audiobooks — will allow the token to have a larger audience application and more utility. As not all customers will care about eBooks or audiobooks, utilizing a $STUFF token for all audio, music, video, etc., will create greater demand, increase token velocity, and operate across both Stuff.io and Book.io properties.

It is notable to mention that the Book.io platform, brand, and bookstore will not disappear or be disabled. Quite the opposite, they will continue to grow and expand deeper into eBooks and Audiobooks and be focused on that audience and vertical — much like Kindle is within Amazon’s ecosystem.

3. Token Bridge to EVM

As previously publicly mentioned, the native token will be bridged to other blockchains as well, which will include an instance on Polygon, and on Base. This will spread liquidity to other ecosystems and focus more on mass adoption across the crypto ecosystem. It has always been our stated position and intent to be a blockchain-agnostic platform whereby creators elect how they want to distribute their works. This will allow consumers the freedom to choose where and how they wish to aggregate the tokens they earn for consuming media.

These changes make it possible for the Book.io platform to operate within the Stuff.io ecosystem — and also allow a scalable architecture to add other future vertical properties under Stuff.io that will also use the $STUFF token.

4. Updates to Consume-to-Earn System™

Changing from Read-to-Earn to Consume-to-Earn will also allow for two dynamic changes to the distribution system overall.

First, the modification from a 50 year distribution schedule to a 100 year schedule will decrease the inflationary effect to the circulating supply.

Second, moving from a halving distribution like Bitcoin to a more advanced function of a bell curve will allow an on-ramping period as the Stuff.io audience grows and then taper off over the longer release period.

The release function is described as follows in Figure 4:

This produces the following release curve in Figure 5:

Important Notes:

• This entire system will be migrated to and managed by a DAO.
• Every 4-hour token distribution will have an exact known amount, and an explorer will be built to easily find this information.
• Distribution will begin and then scale up over the duration of 6 years, where it will achieve its highest hourly distribution rate at 5 years and 1 week (inside the beginning of year 6).
• Rewards by media type will be published prior to the launch of the system, whereby Reading will have additional reward emphasis placed on it.
• Following this release schedule, there will be a balance of 14,756,746 tokens at the end of the 100-year period — this system could be extended by the DAO utilizing that balance of tokens or through capturing $STUFF tokens from purchases to replenish the supply to extend it beyond that period.
• The average 4-hour reward will be divided across all media consumers during that time period.

The following is the distribution schedule by year:

Year 1 51,270,570 Avg 4-hour Reward: 23,411

Year 2 82,764,752 Avg 4-hour Reward: 37,792

Year 3 105,563,789 Avg 4-hour Reward: 48,203

Year 4 116,051,009 Avg 4-hour Reward: 52,991

Year 5 118,927,784 Avg 4-hour Reward: 54,305

Year 6 119,095,976 Avg 4-hour Reward: 54,382

Year 7 118,614,444 Avg 4-hour Reward: 54,162

Year 8 117,958,822 Avg 4-hour Reward: 53,862

Year 9 117,195,775 Avg 4-hour Reward: 53,514

Year 10 116,332,773 Avg 4-hour Reward: 53,120

Year 20 102,833,650 Avg 4-hour Reward: 46,956

Year 30 83,087,595 Avg 4-hour Reward: 37,940

Year 40 61,362,762 Avg 4-hour Reward: 28,020

Year 50 41,422,984 Avg 4-hour Reward: 18,915

Year 60 25,559,104 Avg 4-hour Reward: 11,671

Year 70 14,415,100 Avg 4-hour Reward: 6,582

Year 80 7,431,174 Avg 4-hour Reward: 3,393

Year 90 3,501,588 Avg 4-hour Reward: 1,599

Year 100 1,508,135 Avg 4-hour Reward: 689

Example:

In year five of the system, the 4-hour reward to be distributed across all active consumers is 54,305 $STUFF tokens.

As the goal of Stuff.io is to achieve multiple billions of users, here are a few outlined example numbers:

With 100,000 active consumers, the average reward would be 0.543 $STUFF tokens.

With 1,000,000 active consumers, the average reward would be 0.054 $STUFF tokens.

With 10,000,000 active consumers the average reward would be 0.005 $STUFF tokens.

However, each reward will be based on that user’s total 4-hour consumption against all other’s consumption during that time period. The details between text, audio, music, and video will be outlined prior to launch and will eventually be managed by the DAO in charge of the reward distributions.

$STUFF Economy & Token Recirculation

Inasmuch as is possible without sacrificing consumer freedom or economic sustainability, the Stuff.io protocol is designed to be a closed-loop system whereby the tokens are earned, spent, and used by different parties in a recirculating economy.

Figure 6 illustrates the recirculation of $STUFF beginning with the requirement by Authors and Publishers to be spent in order to create DEA digital books. Books are then purchased by consumers in either Fiat or Crypto, and in some instances will receive discounts for purchasing with $STUFF. The Author & Publisher can then be paid with $STUFF for selling their work. Consumers will earn $STUFF as they read their books from the Read to Earn™ system. Data from their reading, as well as book ownership, is anonymous and available for Authors and Publishers to learn about how their books are consumed and to market to Readers for new releases that they might be interested in — both of which require $STUFF to access. Additionally, authors who host book clubs can charge a fee in $STUFF to have access if they wish, which will allow access to exclusive content, etc. $STUFF can also be a payment method for consumers wishing to loan out their books, and Readers can tip Authors directly in $STUFF.

Consume To Earn™ Loyalty Reward Program

The Consume to Earn (CTE) system exists to incentivize consumers to engage with the media they own by providing a direct and immediate reward. This is also referred to as “consumption rewards,” “consumer mining,” and “knowledge mining.” This is because the process is similar to the Bitcoin Difficulty Adjustment and solving a problem to be eligible for the block reward. In the Stuff.io ecosystem, consumers must consume content in order to compete for a proportional award.

In the CTE model, consumers receive $STUFF tokens for meaningfully engaging with the platform as a positive reinforcement and not just collecting assets. Consumers will be incentivized to engage through an ever-expanding catalog of quality books, audio, music, and video content, and they will also measurably see a financial benefit that they can use within the Stuff.io ecosystem.

Rewards for Reading:

Meaningful change does not happen in one grandiose gesture but in small, persistent changes that aggregate over time. What gets incentivized gets done. Encouraging people to read, even through a token incentive, will align the immediate goals of people with those of society. Education is a net positive, and society must encourage its development. Societies with a higher level of education, on average, produce a higher GDP and have less violent crime. Because of this, we want to positively incentivize consumers who read at a higher rate than listening to music or watching videos, as both of those activities can be more passive and require less mental effort.

Creating a positive feedback loop through the CTE model will likely prove to be a qualitative advantage over the competing alternatives. All things being equal, when a consumer is presented with the choice of consuming media on a platform they have no control over or one that gives them complete control over their asset and additionally rewards them for engaging with it, then the choice seems clear.

The core model is:

• There is an allocated supply of $STUFF dedicated to the RTE model
• This supply will run the course of 100 years
• Every 4-hours, a reward is portioned
• Each consumer that has consumed media within that 4-hour time period is rewarded in proportion against all combined consumers’ cumulative consumption
• A consumer can only earn $STUFF from consuming an asset a single time

Tokenomics

The Token Allocations as outlined in the Book.io Whitepaper 2.0, dated June 30, 2023, have not changed other than to note that unsold tokens from the Initial Token Offering were placed into a rewards pool for 1) Gutenberg Holders, 2) Farming rewards, 3) Stake Pool Rewards.

$STUFF tokens are allocated as follows:

Token Sale 1,500,000,000 15.00%

Seed Sale (done) 500,000,000 5.00%

Initial Token Offering (done) 1,000,000,000 10.00%

Development 900,000,000 9.00%

Development & Operations 300,000,000 3.00%

Exchange Liquidity 500,000,000 5.00%

Technical Bounty 100,000,000 1.00%

Team, Advisors & Acquisitions* 2,600,000,000 26.00%

Consume to Earn Program 5,000,000,000 50.00%

• Indicates Lock-up Period Requirements

5. Roadmap

On July 20, 2022, Book.io started with the launch of the first DEA, the world’s first fully encrypted and decentralized asset. It featured ten times the amount of text of a normal book (in Latin), over 70 high-resolution images that only the asset’s owner can view, and a fully decentralized video with an audio voice-over and music — as a primer containing all of the core elements of media that would be expanded to all online media and content.

Book.io has been the fastest growing publishing startup of all time — growing faster than Amazon’s first years — and is the world’s largest Web3 store for eBooks and Audiobooks, with sales in over 110+ countries. With collaborations from numerous publishers and authors, Book.io has pioneered true digital ownership for revolutionizing the future of digital media.

Unlike many other Web3 projects that suffered and collapsed during the last bear cycle, Stuff.io and Book.io have actual products to sell to a customer base that already buys digital media — but with all of the added benefits of what that asset being blockchain-based means. There are millions of different individual book titles, albums, videos, podcasts, etc., which will all have exact inventory and produce multiple billions of new assets on-chain.

The Stuff.io ecosystem is a groundbreaking blockchain solution for developing decentralized media assets. It has been built with the rigor of high-assurance formal development methods and aims to continue to achieve the scalability, interoperability, and sustainability needed for expanded publishing applications.

Stuff.io is designed to be the platform of choice for both large-scale Publishers, Labels, and Studios as well as Independent Creators- with the focus and mission being to supply the best consumption, purchasing, and reselling economy of the future. To create the Stuff.io ecosystem, multiple prerequisite phases exist. Some of these tasks could come via the acquisition of existing contracts and/or technology.

Phase 1: Genesis (Complete)

• Complete: Team Formation
• Complete: Initial Fundraising
• Complete:Product Roadmap Creation
• Complete:Technical Roadmap Creation
• Complete:Initial Token Generation
• Complete:Author Partnerships
• Complete:Publisher Partnerships

Phase 2: Foundation (Complete)

• Complete:Infrastructure for DEA books: This is the setup of the technology environment for the platform
• Complete:DRM encryption
• Complete:Initial SmartContracts
• Complete:NFT Gating for V1 Book Club Functionality

Phase 3: Decentralized Encrypted Asset (DEA) Launch (Complete)

• Complete: Fully Decentralized Encrypted DEA eBooks (First Decentralized Encrypted Assets — DEAs): This was the first official release of completely decentralized encrypted assets. This is the first major milestone in creating a completely decentralized platform. The book itself and all associated assets for the EPUB file are 100% decentralized and stored on-chain in encrypted shards with manifest files that are used to reassemble and decrypt the book, audio, video, etc. More about this is located in the Technology section of this white paper.
• Complete: Anonymous Browser-based Open eReader dApp: The initial release of the eReader was a browser-based dApp. This application does not store eBooks in any centralized database — it merely filters any CIP-30 connected wallet to display any Book DEA contained in the wallet and allows the book to be opened and read anonymously.
• Complete: Initial Retail Marketplace: Books will be sold directly from the Book.io marketplace for the initial sale, while secondary sales will occur on 3rd party marketplaces to start.

Phase 4: More Book DEAs + $BOOK Token (Complete)

• Complete: Continued Book Releases: Expand the number of titles and DEAs that are minted. This expansion of the book catalogue will occur from the Book.io internal publishing unit, working directly with Publishers, and working with Independent Authors.
• Complete: Mobile Apps: Both iOS and Android reading apps that allow you to connect a wallet and read.
• Complete: Multi-Chain Support: Integrate with several top blockchains and continue building a framework that is blockchain agnostic to empower creators to mint the DEAs to the blockchains that make the most sense for them.
• Complete: Self-Directed Wallets: To have a more seamless Web2 experience, a consumer can generate an account that creates a wallet for them in the background — this is needed to reach a non-crypto native audience. This will allow for a more normal digital book purchasing experience. However, retain “advanced” functionality for crypto-native consumers who want full control over their library.
• Complete: Easy Account Setup: Create a simple onboarding process that does not require any pre-existing cryptocurrency or wallet to get started.
• Complete: Credit Card: Accept Credit Cards for purchasing NFTs in order to remove any possible purchasing barriers for non-crypto consumers.
• Complete: Bulk Redemption Process: This allows anyone to distribute a DEA digital book with just a simple redemption code. This will allow books to easily be sold or given away and onboard new non-crypto consumers.
• Complete: Onboarding of Publisher Catalogues: Working with Publishers to onboard their books. Each Publisher enters into an agreement with Book.io for the end consumer digital ownership of the asset instead of the current licensing model. This includes significant onboarding and client education processes as most Publishers are not versed in blockchain/crypto.
• Complete: Reader Editions: Launch non-rare editions of DEAs that are not collectibles that will work for Mass Trade implementation.
• Complete: Mint+Print™ Prototypes: Working with Ingram Content to deliver single 1:1 Print Edition books based on DEA ownership. This will be a test of the system.
• Complete: Multi-Language and Localization support: Support other languages across the entire platform.

Phase 5: Build, Build, Build

• Complete: Audiobooks Launch
• Complete: $BOOK Utility Token Launch: An Initial Token Offering of $BOOK utility tokens.
• Complete: Payment Options in multiple Fiat types for International expansion and other Cryptocurrency support for payment
• Complete: Accept Credit Cards for all supported blockchains
• Complete: Expansion to multiple EVM blockchains
• Public Launch of Stuff.io
• Video DEA Launch
• Music DEA Launch
• Stuff.io Mobile Apps
• Onboard Authors and Publisher catalogues to scale up inventory
• Onboard music, video, etc., from Creators
• Creator Portal: This will allow Creators to use the system to create and launch DEA assets
• Robust Marketplace and Secondary P2P Asset Exchange: Launch an exchange so that consumers can directly trade with one another.
• Verified Reading, Listening, Watching: Launch a system to accurately verify the amount of content that has been consumed
• Consume to Earn™ Reward System Launch
• Mint+Print™ Book Bundling: To combine the utility of Book DEA’s with a real-world application, introduce a solution to allow DEA owners to order printed copies of their books from print-on-demand printers. These custom books will have their unique cover artwork linked to the DEA book they own
• Accessibility Support
• Social Clubs Structure: This will create a social infrastructure so that friends can connect within Stuff.io and make it easier to share and lend assets
• Friend Structure: Will allow users to connect and communicate directly with friends
• Sending Assets: Making it easier to send assets to a friend with zero wallet interaction for non-crypto users
• Gifting System: To make it easy to gift books to others
• Lending Books: A protocol for how book lending will work and how owners could be paid for lending if they desire
• Continued Mobile App Development
• Continued Promotional Bulk Redemption System
• Affiliate System

6.6 Phase 6: Scaling, Analytics & Governance

• Expansion into other countries, territories, and languages
• Continue Multi-chain expansion to other relevant Blockchains
• Continued Mobile App Development
• Continued Marketplace Development
• Continued Social Club Development
• Consumption Analytics Dashboard: This will allow Creators insight into their books and relative consumption metrics
• Enterprise Marketing Platform: This system will allow Creators the ability to send notifications, messages, and discounts to their audience
• Fully Decentralized Media Viewer App Structure: While the DEA digital book portion of the platform is completely decentralized, plans to make the Viewer itself completely decentralized
• Fully Decentralized Consume to Earn™ Program managed by a DAO
• Autonomous Key Management dApp and Decentralized Storage Infrastructure: This will be the system by which content creators and any consumer can share in the storage effort and key decentralization
• SDKs for any external reader implementation: This will allow other platforms, apps, and wallets the ability to let consumers access DEA asset contents
• Launch or employ a Voting Mechanism/Platform to allow creators and consumers the ability to manage the prioritization of future roadmap and system implementations

6. Team

The founding team behind Stuff.io has previously worked together on other successful digital publishing projects. In 2007, the team first met and worked on a project that involved licensing materials from HarperCollins and eventually sold to a media conglomerate.

Following that, the team developed and sold an eBook platform and distribution company that attracted more than 6 million registered users. Its rapid growth stemmed from being the first eReader that could be used on any device, including Android and iOS (before the Kindle mobile apps), and offered an HTML5 web reader as well, which was a pioneering feature in the reading platform space at that time. Choosing to work with, instead of against Publishers, the catalog contained over 186,000 publishers and imprints worldwide, including major players like Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Macmillan. This extensive catalog encompassed millions of book titles.

The team received notable recognition in technology publications and set the standard for innovative reading experiences, with many elements being adopted by large, centralized retailers. Through strategic partnerships with influential entities such as Wall Street Journal, Intel, T-Mobile, Apple, Microsoft, Google, AARP, CBS, General Mills, over 50 prestigious universities (including Stanford), and numerous other organizations, the company became the world’s largest distributor of bulk eBooks. Their comprehensive digital publishing ecosystem created a unique position that would be exceedingly challenging for newcomers to compete with or replicate easily.

Stuff.io approaches this world-changing endeavor with a founding team that is steeped in over 15 years of experience in digital publishing, combined with a cutting-edge distributed team around the globe.

Joshua Stone, Co-Founder & CEO.

With more than 25 years of involvement in the tech industry, Josh has traversed various stages, from fledgling startups to established enterprises. In 1999, he contributed to the initial development of Fandango.com; later, he led the interactive marketing teams for AT&T, and further led the Product/UX team for hotels.com/Expedia, Inc. Josh has had two startup exits, Big Jump Media (GodTube.com), and BookShout.com, where he was President and Chief Product Officer. Most recently, he served as CEO of a NYT-Bestselling Author’s digital training platform before starting Book.io and Stuff.io.

Ben Illian, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer.

A natural entrepreneur, Ben has been drawn to tech and startups since 2004. He has led teams as a VP of Marketing & Sales, Product Owner, Social Media Manager, and Chief Growth Officer. Working with Josh, Ben was part of two startup exits and now works full-time as a Chief Growth Officer, coming up with innovative ways to maximize revenue, lower acquisition costs, and provide the best customer journey.

RJ Regenold, Chief Technology Officer

RJ has over 20 years of software engineering experience and has led teams at both startups and Fortune 10 companies. He has delivered a wide variety of production software written in over 15 different programming languages. RJ has contributed to mobile apps for Walmart and Sam’s Club, pharmaceutical logistics software that manages the inventory at over 12,000 pharmacies, a social reading platform, a high-traffic social network, and many other projects. As a lifelong learner, he enjoys tackling difficult problems with innovative solutions.

7. Investors

Ingram Content Group

www.ingramcontent.com

The world is reading, and Ingram Content Group (“Ingram”) connects people with content in all forms. Providing comprehensive services for publishers, retailers, libraries, and educators, Ingram makes these services seamless and accessible through technology, innovation, and creativity. With an expansive global network of offices and facilities, Ingram’s services include digital and physical book distribution, print on demand, and other services for the publishing industry. Ingram Content Group is a part of Ingram Industries Inc. and includes Ingram Book Group LLC, Ingram Publisher Services LLC, Lightning Source LLC, Ingram Library Services LLC, Tennessee Book Company LLC, Ingram Content Group UK Ltd. and Ingram Content Group Australia Pty Ltd.

Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments

www.bdmifund.com

BDMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of the global media, services, and education company Bertelsmann. As a financially driven corporate venture investor, BDMI draws upon Bertelsmann’s global reach to provide not only capital but also access to their network of businesses within Bertelsmann and across the media and tech industries. BDMI has invested in over 100 startups since 2007 and is currently focused on the categories of next gen media, web3, enterprise SaaS, and fintech. Bertelsmann is a media, services, and education company that operates in about 50 countries around the world. It includes the entertainment group RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House, the music company BMG, the service provider Arvato, the Bertelsmann Printing Group, the Bertelsmann Education Group, and Bertelsmann Investments, an international network of funds. The company has 145,000 employees and generated revenues of €18.7 billion in the 2021 financial year. Bertelsmann stands for creativity and entrepreneurship. This combination promotes first-class media content and innovative service solutions that inspire customers around the world. Bertelsmann aspires to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.

Radical Investments, LP

A Mark Cuban Company

Mark Cuban is an American entrepreneur, investor, and TV personality. He made his fortune during the dot-com boom by co-founding Broadcast.com, which was later acquired by Yahoo!. Cuban is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team and has been involved in various technology startups and investments. He gained further fame as a “shark” investor on the TV show “Shark Tank,” where he evaluates and invests in aspiring entrepreneurs’ business ideas. Known for his outspokenness and philanthropic efforts, Mark Cuban is recognized as a prominent figure in the business world, sports industry, and the realm of popular culture.

8. Conclusion

The current digital media landscape is flawed due to a lack of true ownership for consumers and inadequate compensation for creators. Traditional digital licensing models restrict user rights and depend on centralized providers, leading to revocable access, limited sharing capabilities, privacy concerns, and vulnerability to changes in service terms.

Stuff.io offers a revolutionary solution by leveraging blockchain technology to create Decentralized Encrypted Assets (DEAs), allowing consumers to truly own their digital media and creators to directly sell their work. This model ensures genuine ownership, enhanced security, and fair compensation for creators. It also integrates user-friendly onboarding and multi-chain interoperability, aiming to transition the digital media market from restrictive licensing to true digital ownership, thus fostering a more equitable and sustainable ecosystem for all stakeholders.

9. Disclaimers

Stuff.io (BVI) Inc., (the “Company”) is providing this Whitepaper to the recipient, which also includes, without limitation, any principal, employee or agent of the recipient.

This Whitepaper provides a summary of the main features of the Company. It contains general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account any participant’s objectives, financial situation, or needs. Participants should read the Whitepaper carefully and assess whether the information is appropriate for them in respect of their objectives, financial situation, and needs.

This Whitepaper does not purport to contain all the information that a prospective participant may require. In all cases, interested parties should conduct their own investigation and analysis of the Company and the data contained in this Whitepaper.

The Company does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this Whitepaper. Furthermore, the Company shall not have any liability to the recipient or any person resulting from the reliance upon this Whitepaper in making determinations about the Company.

The Company considers this document non-financial information, and anything seeming to relate to any financial information contained in this Whitepaper has been prepared to the best of its reasonable knowledge and ability. However, recipients must rely on their own investigation of all financial information, and no representations or warranties are or will be made by the Company as to the accuracy or completeness of such information.

The Company makes no representation about the underlying value of the tokens. Prospective participants must make their own assessment about whether the price of the tokens being offered represents fair value.

Participant Warning

Participation in tokens can carry high risks. Before participating in any project about which information is given, prospective participants are strongly advised to seek appropriate professional advice. The information contained in this Whitepaper has been prepared by or on behalf of the Company.

Prominent Statements

The information contained in this Whitepaper is not intended to be the only information on which a decision is to be made and is not a substitute for a disclosure document, or any other notice that may be required under law. Detailed information may be needed to make a token participation decision.

Future Statements

Except for historical information, there may be matters in this Whitepaper that are forward-looking statements. Such statements are only predictions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainty. Forward-looking statements, which are based on assumptions and estimates and describe the Company’s future plans, strategies, and expectations are generally identifiable by the use of the words ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘plan’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘seek’, or similar expressions. Participants are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. By its nature, forward-looking information involves assumptions, inherent risks, and uncertainties both general and specific that contribute to the possibility those predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will not occur. Those risks and uncertainties include factors and risks specific to the industry in which the Company operates as well as general economic conditions. Actual performance or events may be materially different from those expressed or implied in those statements.

All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this section. Except as expressly required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements provided in this Whitepaper whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, or the risks affecting this information.

None of the Company, its officers or any person named in this Whitepaper with their consent, or any person involved in the preparation of this Whitepaper, makes any representation or warranty (express or implied) as to the accuracy or likelihood of fulfillment of any forward-looking statement except to the extent required by law. The forward-looking statements reflect the views held only as at the date of this Whitepaper.

Value Risks

Tokens issued by the Company may drop substantially in value, or may remain illiquid for long periods of time or indefinitely. The Company cannot guarantee an active secondary market for the exchange of tokens purchased. Not all disclosures or statements are being made in this disclaimer section. Participants should seek the professional advice of legal counsel and investment professionals.

$STUFF tokens may change in value based on a number of factors that are outside Stuff.io’s control. There is no guarantee or expectation that $STUFF tokens will increase in value, provide a return, or have sufficient adoption and liquidity on exchanges. Owning these tokens does not constitute a share of equity or ownership in the company. The token economy is new and exciting. Regulatory circumstances may require that token mechanics be changed or altered. $STUFF tokens may have no value. The company reserves the right to refuse or cancel token purchase requests at any time at its sole discretion.

Book.io Updates

Stuff.io News: Get ready! This week marks the launch of Stuff.io, and we couldn’t be more excited. We are bringing in a new era where artists are treated fairly, and users actually own their digital purchases. With Book.io, our goal was to give you the ability to truly own books. With Stuff.io, we want to extend that capability to all your digital media. Experience true ownership like never before!

The Big STUFF This Week:

• First of all, don’t miss on the serious Alpha we dropped last week. That’s right, we dropped a new whiteboard video outlining everything you need to know about how Stuff.io will work alongside Book.io. It is absolutely a must-watch!
• $BOOK Token will be renamed to $STUFF Token.
• No action is required by holders, all metadata will automatically update in your wallet and on DEXs & CEXs.
• Read-to-Earn™ will be rebranded to Consume-to-Earn™ to accommodate all media types.
• Books, Music, Video, and other media will be eligible for Consume-to-Earn™.
• On Tuesday, we’re minting the Stuff.io Whitepaper: Collector’s Edition, a look into the nitty gritty of Stuff.io. It should answer any questions you may have about the finer details of our tokenomics, the Consume-to-Earn™ program, and the revolutionary approach we’re taking to digital media ownership. For the full details, click here.
• Details:
• Time: June 11th, at 5 PM Eastern, 21:00 UTC
• Chain: Cardano
• Edition: Collector’s eBook
• Volume: 500
• Crypto Price: 99 ADA (No Discount)
• USD Price: $44 USD (No Discount) — Subject to change based on matching ADA prices
• Purchase limit 3
• Unique Designs: 500
• Series: None
• The Whitepaper Collector’s edition eBook will not have any Golden Bookmarks nor announced utility… yet. But we have some ideas.
• The Whitepaper will also be available for reading on medium free of charge.
• On Thursday, we’re making history with the first Decentralized Encrypted Video Asset, Episode 0 of “About Stuff,” a documentary series that examines the day-to-day operations of the team building the future of media. This will be the Genesis asset for the Stuff.io platform, akin to the Gutenberg Bible for Book.io. You do not want to miss out on this mint, please show up early because the community is hyped about it. To get all of the specifics click here.
• We will also be minting a Stuff.io Fungible DEA on Base of Episode 0 of “About Stuff.” For all of the particulars of that mint, click here, and please keep a close eye on our socials. Don’t forget to follow Stuff.io on X!
• Psst… the trailer for Episode 0 just dropped.

Other Highlights From the Week:

• The Reply: Recently, someone raised objections about our approach on Twitter. Josh provided an excellent explanation, clarifying why Book.io operates the way it does and reinforcing our commitment to true digital ownership and fair treatment for artists. It made us all very proud to be a part of this project. You can read it here, and please remember that respectful and thoughtful debate is a cornerstone of our community.
• The Pop-In: We had a wonderful visit from Lenna, the founder of Claymates. It was great talking with her about all kinds of Stuff.
• Wednesday Wrap-Up: Listen in as Josh and our VP of engineering, Guillermo, walk through all the amazing tech advances that happened last month.

Minting Tuesday!
Stuff.io Whitepaper: Collector’s Edition — Minting on Cardano

A new era of digital media is about to begin. Thank you for being with us. And remember… Own Your Stuff!

Cheers,
The Book.io Team.

Join the Discussion:
1. Twitter
2. Discord
3. Reddit

Stuff.io News: The official launch will be on Thursday, June 13th. Mark your calendars! We are so excited for you to see everything that we’ve been working so hard on.

Last Week’s Mints:

• Tuesday, took us into the exciting world of a World War I veteran who evolves into a daring gentleman adventurer and crime fighter in Bulldog Drummond by H.C. McNeile. His escapades are filled with action, mystery, and romance. Click here to mint yours and experience true ownership.
• Wednesday, Fall of Night by Joseph Nassise captivated readers with its supernatural suspense. The story follows former SWAT officer turned monster hunter Cade Williams as he battles dark forces threatening humanity. Perfect for fans of urban fantasy and horror, this book is still minting, with rarities #000, 001, and 002 available. Click here to add it to your collection.
• Thursday, featured the endearing audiobook version of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. Listen as the timeless adventures of Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood come alive, perfect for fans young and old. These audiobooks feature some of our favorite covers; visit jpg.store to see them all and get one (or two) for yourself.
• Friday, we minted The Cougar Diaries by Jillian Godsil. This candid and humorous memoir explores the author’s journey through love, loss, and self-discovery. It’s a heartfelt and inspiring read that resonates with anyone who has faced life’s unexpected challenges. Rarities #001, 002, and 004 have yet to be minted, so act fast!
• We also airdropped On the Nature of Things by Titus Lucretius Carus to those of you who took part in the Monday Meditations snapshot. This epic poem endeavors to explain the physical world through the framework of Epicurean philosophy. If you missed out, it’s not too late; you can still own this incredible work. Click here to add it to your library today.

Minting This Week:

• Today, we’re minting Backed by the Law by Louis Masterson. Follow Kane as he faces ruthless criminals and shifting alliances in the harsh world of frontier justice. Masterson’s vivid storytelling and rich character development make this a gripping tale of loyalty, vengeance, and redemption. Don’t delay! Click here to experience the adventure firsthand, and keep an eye on our Discord for all the series details.
• Tuesday, dive into the audiobook of By Design by Janet Baker, the first in a captivating trilogy. A young interior designer falls for Dr. Bradford Young, Jr., but their budding romance faces challenges due to their fundamental differences. As secrets unravel and conflicts arise, she must decide if this love is worth fighting for.
• Wednesday, we’re minting 3 standard edition books from our popular Banned Books series. Eager to get them sooner? Get the collector’s editions of all three books here.
• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain takes you on an unforgettable voyage down the Mississippi River. This classic novel explores themes of freedom, friendship, and adventure, capturing the spirit of American literature with humor and poignancy. Experience Huck’s daring exploits and the colorful characters he meets along the way.
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a powerful tale of sin, guilt, and redemption in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts. Follow Hester Prynne as she navigates the challenges of public shame and personal strength. Hawthorne’s masterful storytelling and deep exploration of moral complexity make this an essential read.
• The Jungle by Upton Sinclair exposes the harsh realities of the American meatpacking industry in the early 20th century. This groundbreaking novel highlights the struggles of immigrant workers and the need for social reform. Sinclair’s vivid and impactful narrative helped spark significant changes in labor laws and food safety regulations.
• Thursday, travel to France with Victor Hugo’s monumental story Les Miserables. Engage with the lives of its indelible figures in a narrative that spans love, loss, and ultimate redemption. One of our favorite quotes from this book is, “He was fond of books, for they are cool and sure friends.”
• Friday, we’re minting Awoke by K.T. Conte, a story about a normal teenager thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Katya’s life changes when she discovers her ability to see unearthly creatures and manipulate life energy. She must navigate this perilous new reality and decide whether to embrace her destiny or cling to her past.
• Token Bridge: This should be ready for an audit by the end of this week. We’ll be engaging auditors to review everything end-to-end to ensure it’s shipshape.
• Book Tour: Josh and Ben had some great meetings in Austin, and will be headed to NYC for publisher meetings next week.
• App-roval Quest: The Stuff.io Mobile App was rejected by Apple (of course), and thus begins the appeals process. The Android version was also rejected due to login issues with a Stuff account. We’ve already resubmitted both apps and are awaiting approval.
• Chalk It Up: A new Whiteboard video is set to drop at the end of this week. Keep an eye out for fresh insights and updates.
• Weekly Open Space — Base(d) 2x with Charli3 and Stuff.io
• This week’s topics:
• Book.io’s integration with Charli3 oracles and the effects of USD-based prices for future sales.
• Stuff.io will be launching on Base and Cardano.
• Latest updates on our Book.io cover quiz plans.
• When: 4th June, 19–20 UTC
• Where: Voice Lounge on Discord

Minting Thursday!
Les Misérables — Minting on Cardano

Our journey so far has been incredible, and it’s thanks to you, the best community in crypto. Here’s to building the future of books together.

Cheers,
The Book.io Team.

Join the Discussion:
1. Twitter
2. Discord
3. Reddit

Stuff.io Updates: Although we initially aimed to launch Stuff.io in May, we decided to delay it slightly for a specific reason: in the spirit of “multichain,” we want to simultaneously launch the first asset on both Cardano and an EVM chain, specifically Base.

We have fully functional Video DEAs, completed and submitted apps that are awaiting approval from the App stores, and have versioned Parlamint to create a “Stuff” path that will evolve to be more customized for these assets. Additionally, we’ve finished the capability to mint on Base. However, we currently lack the ability to accept credit card payments for EVM chains. We want to ensure it’s easy for anyone, especially those minting their first Base asset, to participate.

Extensive QA and edge-case scenario testing have made everything very solid. We will launch with a new front page for Stuff.io, along with a Litepaper. This delay also gives us more time to create support assets, including a new whiteboard video from Josh about Stuff.io and its interaction with Book.io.

Last Week’s Mints:

• Monday, we began the week with a glimpse into an iconic time of transformation. Tales of the Jazz Age by F. Scott Fitzgerald is now in the hands of those who participated in the Multi-Chain #2 snapshot. It’s a dazzling array of short stories that showcase the glitz, glamour, and underlying tensions of the 1920s. Missed out on the snapshot? Don’t fret; it’s available at jpg.store, and be sure to check out this hilarious cover.
• Tuesday ventured into the realm of horror and mystery with a Victorian classic. The Beetle by Richard Marsh will keep you on the edge of your seat with its chilling tale of an ancient Egyptian creature wreaking havoc in London. This gripping story of suspense and supernatural terror is still minting with rarities #003, 006, and 007 available. Click here to add this spine-tingling read to your collection.
• Wednesday brought an ancient epic to life in a new way. The Beowulf audiobook lets you experience the legendary tale of courage in an immersive audio format. Dive into the thrilling adventures of Beowulf as he takes on terrifying foes. Rarities #002 and 006 have yet to be minted, but they won’t be available for long, so act now! Click here to mint yours, and click here to get the collector’s edition eBook.
• Thursday took us into the ancient world with a historical adventure. Cleopatra by H. Rider Haggard brings to life the tumultuous and dramatic story of the legendary queen. Through the eyes of Harmachis, a young priest dedicated to overthrowing Cleopatra and restoring Egypt to its former glory, we experience a tale of power, betrayal, and passion. To mint a book you can truly own, click here.
• Friday, we airdropped The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio, to those of you who took part in the Banned Book-A-Day snapshot. This masterpiece of early Italian literature is a collection of 100 stories told by a group of youths sheltering in a secluded villa to escape the Black Death. These tales offer a rich tapestry of medieval life, combining wit, humor, and social commentary. Visit jpg.store to dive into this timeless classic.

Minting This Week:

• Today, Bulldog Drummond by H. C. McNeile is still minting! This classic thriller, featuring the suave and unflappable ex-soldier Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond, continues to capture the imagination of readers with its gripping plot and action-packed scenes. Rarities #001, #005, and #006 are still available, so mint quickly while you still can.
• Wednesday, we are minting Fall of Night by New York Times Best-Selling Author Joseph Nassise, the sixth installment in the Templar Chronicles series. After defeating the Adversary, former Knight Commander Cade Williams faces devastating personal losses and a shattered reputation. Join us as Cade battles new threats and seeks redemption in this thrilling continuation of the series.
• We will also be doing a snapshot of the Monster 2.0 series, so please keep an eye on our socials for all the details.
• Thursday will offer a delightful escape into the Hundred Acre Wood. The Winnie the Pooh audiobook will bring you into the charming adventures of Pooh Bear and his friends. Join the lovable bear, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore on their heartwarming journeys. Don’t miss the chance to rediscover the magic of A.A. Milne’s beloved characters.
• Friday, we travel to Ireland with Aoife Brennan’s The Cougar Diaries. This incredible DEA includes the entire trilogy, offering an intimate glimpse into life as a newly single woman, mother, and Dubliner. Follow her as she battles the outdated legal divorce system, fights for a fair future, and learns to live and love again. It’s a story of resilience, mistakes, and embracing life with gusto!
• In addition, for those of you who participated in the Monday Meditations snapshot in April, we’ll be airdropping On the Nature of Things by Lucretius. This profound work explores the philosophy of Epicureanism and the nature of the world.
• Bridging The Gap: The token bridge is progressing well. Locking Cardano-based tokens is recognized across the bridge to the EVM side, preventing any double fund transactions. Now, we are focused on eliminating any risk of issues from EVM back to Cardano. This should be completed in the next week, after which we will submit it to a third party for contract audits. We plan to launch at the end of June or early July.
• Mint+Print™: This is moving along well from the engineering and order automation standpoint. We can’t wait to roll this out!
• Mass Onboarding: Multi-use code development is up next, which will allow us to generate a large influx of new users as we will be able to give away books, music, and videos to attract newbies.

Minting Wednesday!
Fall of Night — Minting on Cardano

We’re thrilled about what’s coming up in the next few weeks. We’re all working incredibly hard, and happy you’re here as we build the future of books… and all decentralized digital media.

Cheers,
The Book.io Team.

Join the Discussion:
1. Twitter
2. Discord
3. Reddit

• Own Your Stuff: Exciting news! Stuff.io video DEAs are on the horizon. If you haven’t already, watch the demo of this innovative technology. It’s set to revolutionize how you handle your digital video content, offering exceptional security and true ownership.

Last Week’s Mints:

• Monday, we released two compelling books that offer deep insights into human nature and history.
• The Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche uncovers the origins and evolution of our moral concepts in this thought-provoking book. This work pushes readers to scrutinize and rethink the foundations of their values, making it perfect for those ready to explore new perspectives. Click here to dive into Nietzsche’s revolutionary ideas.
• Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup takes readers back to the brutal realities of plantation life, where individuals are treated as property and subjected to unimaginable cruelty. It tells the true story of a free man who suffered the horrors of being kidnapped and enslaved. Make sure to add this important work to your digital library; visit jpg.store to purchase yours.
• Tuesday, we minted Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. It is the tragic tale of Emma Bovary, a woman who dreams of a life filled with romance and excitement but finds herself trapped in the mundane reality of provincial life. Click here to explore this classic of French literature.
• Wednesday, we looked at the past and the future with two fantastic works:
• The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer embarks on a journey through medieval England with an enchanting collection of stories. This groundbreaking work features an array of characters, each with their own unique tale, blending wit, satire, and keen social commentary. Join the pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury today by visiting jpg.store.
• The Heist on Alpha: Extended Special Edition is an exhilarating graphic novel that takes sci-fi robberies to a new level. This exclusive DEA is jam-packed with content, including two spin-off comics as well as 60 pages of extras. This mint only has 125 books left, but rarity #000 has yet to be minted! Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of this thrilling adventure. Click here to see all the bonuses, and click here to mint one of your very own.
• Friday marked the arrival of two enduring comedic treasures to our library:
• Droll Stories by Honoré de Balzac takes us into the lively world of medieval France with this collection of ribald and satirical tales. Initially causing a sensation with its frank portrayal of sexuality and social norms, it remains a timeless classic that entertains and provokes thought in equal measure. Visit jpg.store to journey back to the vibrant spirit of the Renaissance.
• Lysistrata by Aristophanes transports readers to ancient Greece with this renowned comedy, a sharp critique of war, and a bold exploration of gender roles. This play combines humor and social commentary in a way that remains relevant today, showcasing the power of laughter to provoke thought and inspire change. Click here to buy yours, and don’t forget to check out all the covers; they are both hilarious and beautiful.

Minting This Week:

• Monday, we’ve just airdropped Tales of the Jazz Age by F. Scott Fitzgerald to those of you who took part in the Multi-Chain #2 snapshot. This anthology brings together a vibrant mix of short stories that capture the spirit of the Jazz Age, blending wit, romance, and a touch of melancholy. The most notable of these stories is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. If you couldn’t take part in the snapshot but still want to own this incredible work, don’t worry! It’s easy; just visit jpg.store.
• Tuesday, get ready to be captivated by Richard Marsh’s thrilling blend of horror and mystery in The Beetle. Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century London, this novel follows the sinister figure of a shape-shifting beetle that wreaks havoc on the lives of those it encounters. Initially selling more copies than Bram Stoker’s Dracula upon its release in 1897, it remains a thought-provoking and enduring work in Gothic literature.
• Wednesday, prepare for adventure as we release Beowulf on audiobook. The epic tale of the legendary hero who battles the monstrous Grendel, Grendel’s vengeful mother, and a fearsome dragon. Set in 6th-century Scandinavia, this Old English masterpiece combines themes of heroism, bravery, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Don’t miss this beautifully narrated edition that brings the ancient tale to life. You can get the print edition of Beowulf, part of our Monster series, here.
• Thursday, we’re traveling to ancient Egypt with Cleopatra by H. Rider Haggard. Follow the journey of Harmachis, the last descendant of a pharaoh’s bloodline, as he uses priestly magic in an attempt to overthrow Cleopatra and restore Egypt to its golden age. Blending historical action with supernatural elements, this adventure novel brings the ancient world to life.
• Friday, for those of you who participated in the Banned Book-A-Day snapshot on Monday, we’re airdropping The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. It’s a collection of 100 tales told by ten young people fleeing the plague, written just after the disease had ravaged Europe. We’ll also be taking a snapshot of the Monster 2.0 series so keep an eye on our Discord for all the details.
• Productive Publisher Meetings: A lot more publisher meetings took place this week, and they’re going really well. More exciting partnerships are on the horizon!
• Stuff.io Mobile App: Pending app store approval, the Stuff.io app should be available immediately upon launch.
• $BOOK Airdop: Guten holders, rejoice! Today, 833.33 $BOOK was airdropped to you for each Gutenberg Bible you own. Another great incentive to Get a Gute!
• Summer Conferences: The team is really looking forward to attending a number of events this summer. We hope to see you in person to discuss the latest in digital book ownership and share our newest releases. Keep an eye on our socials for more details, and be sure to stop by our booth and say hello!
• Multi-use Promotional Codes: We’re starting multi-use promotional codes, which will help us launch mass marketing campaigns and spread the word about all these incredible developments.
• Book.io Mobile App: New updates with enhanced user features are expected to be pushed out this week.
• New Payment Options: We’re in the process of implementing EVM credit card payments to make purchasing your favorite digital books even more seamless.
• Weekly Open Space — As the end of May approaches, we’re all eagerly awaiting the release of Stuff.io. We’ll dive into what is known about Stuff.io so far and look forward to speculating with you.
• When: 21st May, 19–20 UTC
• Where: Voice Lounge on Discord

Minting Tuesday!
The Beetle — Minting on Cardano

We’re stepping into another exhilarating week, and trust us, the journey is just beginning! Your support means the world as we build the future of books.

Cheers,
The Book.io Team.

Join the Discussion:
1. Twitter
2. Discord
3. Reddit

• DELIST YOUR GUTES!: The next Gute snapshot will be on Sunday, May 19th. Be sure and delist, or you’ll miss out on the $BOOK airdrop and feel like an idiot (which you will be). You should also Get a Gute!

Last Week’s Mints:

• Monday, we minted A Room with a View by E. M. Forster. This enchanting narrative explores the struggle between tradition and independence, capturing a young woman’s quest to break free from societal norms and find true love. The mint for this book is still ongoing, with highly desirable rarities #000, #001, and #002 available. To mint a book you truly own, click here.
• Tuesday we released two fantastic works that are sure to captivate and inspire:
• Forge Master (Audiobook) by Seth Ring, is where fantasy and role-playing games collide in an epic LitRPG saga. Embark on a journey that promises excitement, adventure, and endless possibilities. Start your quest now!
• Tao Te Ching by Lao Zi (Standard Edition) distills the essence of Taoist thought, encouraging readers to lead lives of quiet reflection and harmonious action. Its enduring relevance speaks to its universal truths and the timeless pursuit of wisdom. You can purchase the Standard Edition here, and the Collector’s Edition here.
• Wednesday, we unveiled the audiobook edition of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Listen as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy spar and reconcile amidst the rigid social structures of their time. Click here to immerse yourself in this timeless classic.
• Friday, we kicked things off with a triple mint and an airdrop:
• The Strangest Things in the World by Thomas R. Henry offers a captivating glimpse into the odd and remarkable elements that our world conceals. Delve into this fascinating collection of extraordinary tales that explore the enigmatic and the unexplainable. Secure your book now and uncover the mysteries that defy explanation, here’s where you can get yours:
• Cardano
• Eth
• Poly
• The Star and the Gun was airdropped to those of you who participated in the recent El Paso Verse snapshot. Masterson’s sharp prose draws readers into a frontier world where honor and loyalty are crucial against a backdrop of danger. Missed out? Visit jpg.store to find out what’s next for Morgan Kane and his thrilling adventures.
• Saturday, we added another book to our Foundations of the United States series with the Articles of Confederation. This historic document laid the groundwork for the federal governance system used today. It offers invaluable insights into the challenges and aspirations of the early American republic. Discover the origins of our nation’s governance, click here to mint this pivotal document.

Minting This Week:

• Monday, we’re starting off with a bang with incredible books that sold out in the blink of an eye:
• The Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche, part of our Monday Meditations 3.0 series, allows you to engage with profound philosophical inquiries that test conventional values and examine the origins of our ethical beliefs. This work invites readers to question the very foundations of morality. Ready to challenge your principles? Visit jpg.store to buy yours now!
• Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup is a harrowing memoir of a free Black man kidnapped and sold into slavery, providing important insights into the brutal realities of American history. It’s part of our popular Banned Book-A-Day series, which mints every day this week. Be sure to check our Discord for snapshot and airdrop details. Although this book sold out immediately, don’t be too disappointed; you can still acquire it here.
• Tuesday, we’re minting Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. Explore the tragic story of Emma Bovary, whose quest for passion and escape from provincial life leads to her downfall. This novel, often criticized for its honest portrayal of infidelity, remains a powerful critique of bourgeois society.
• Wednesday, please be sure and show up early and be focused, as these books are sure to sell out almost instantly.
• The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer provides a glimpse into the vibrant tapestry of medieval England. This seminal work blends humor, irony, and critique through a series of diverse and engaging stories told by pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury. Each tale offers unique insights into the human condition and the social issues of Chaucer’s time.
• The Heist on Alpha: Extended Special Edition is a captivating graphic novel that revolves around sci-fi robberies and is something we are extremely thrilled about. This amazing DEA is filled with bonuses that go beyond the main book. In addition to the original story, you’ll also get two spin-off short comics and 60 pages of additional content. Click here to watch the book trailer for a sneak peek of all the extras.
• Thursday is the premiere of Droll Stories by Honoré de Balzac, which offers a delightful glimpse into the mischievous spirit of the Renaissance. Dive into a collection of tales that blend humor, satire, and a touch of risqué, as Balzac brings the flamboyant and scandalous characters of the period to vivid life.
• We will also be taking a snapshot of the Audiobook Genesis series, so please double-check to ensure your collection is complete.
• Friday, we’re minting Lysistrata by Aristophanes. The play’s exploration of gender dynamics, political satire, and the quest for peace makes it both entertaining and thought-provoking. It remains a powerful reminder of the potential for humor to inspire social change and challenge the status quo.
• Own Your Stuff: A major focus for us at the moment is perfecting our Video DEAs, which are already operational from end to end. We are now applying the final polish before we proceed to the testing phase.
• Token Bridge building continues. The bridge for Cardano and EVM is now being tested, and we are working out future upgradability for the bridge before we move to third-party audits.
• Stuff.io Mobile Apps are in development with some login and OAuth edge cases being worked out.
• Monthly Tech Wrap-Up: Tune in as Josh and our VP of Engineering, Guillermo, walk through the technological strides we made last month. Hearing them detail our achievements in such a brief period really highlights the exceptional skills of our development team. Click here to listen now.
• Adding New Partners: We’re riding the wave of momentum from Book.io Con with numerous follow-up meetings. These discussions have been incredibly productive, showing promising signs for future collaborations and support. The feedback and interest from both publishers and investors have been overwhelmingly positive, paving the way for exciting developments ahead!
• Weekly Open Space — Join us to get the latest news about Book.io media appearances, tech updates, an upcoming release with Heist On Alpha, and $BEARD’s Coinstore listing.
• When: 14th May, 19–20 UTC
• Where: Voice Lounge on Discord

Minting Wednesday!
Heist On Alpha: Extended Special Edition — Minting on Cardano

The coming month is set to be filled with remarkable achievements, and there’s no one we’d rather have by our side than the best community in crypto as we build the future of books.

Cheers,
The Book.io Team.

Join the Discussion:
1. Twitter
2. Discord
3. Reddit

• NEW STUFF: We are so excited to announce that Stuff.io will launch this month. The team has been hard at work developing Music and Video DEA’s, and we can’t wait to share them with you. Get ready to experience something truly special!

Last Week’s Mints:

• Monday started off strong with a flash mint of The Wizard Tim: A Romp in the Swamp by Tim Canada and Joseph Eleam, in both written and narrated formats. This captivating tale is part of a broader series set in the vibrant world of Bursaria. The sellout was incredibly fast, but don’t worry, you can get the ebook and the audiobook on jpg.store.
• We also airdropped The Wizard Tim audiobook. If you missed the snapshot and still want to listen to the adventures of the laziest wizard in the world, you’re in luck! You can find them on jpg.store; the covers are fantastic and hilarious.
• Tuesday saw the arrival of Weird Music That Goes On Forever: A Punk’s Guide to Loving Jazz by Bob Suren. Dive into this unique exploration of jazz music through a punk rocker’s perspective. If you’ve ever been curious about jazz but felt it wasn’t for you, this guide is here to bridge that gap. This book is still minting, and rarities 007 and 009 are available for now. Hurry to claim yours, these won’t last long!
• Participants in the OG Raffle were treated to an airdrop of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. If you didn’t join the raffle, don’t fret, you can still experience this iconic work by visiting jpg.store to get one of your very own.
• Wednesday was a flash mint of Nonsensorship by George P. Putnam. This incisive book critically examines and challenges societal norms and censorship, making a strong case for the unrestricted exchange of ideas. Don’t miss your chance to engage with this provocative work; get yours today and be part of a crucial dialogue on freedom.
• Thursday, we minted the reader edition of War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. This groundbreaking science fiction classic explores the drama and devastation of interplanetary conflict, immersing readers in Wells’ vivid and imaginative world. Minting for this book is still ongoing, with rarities 0000, 0001, and 0002 available, but they won’t be for long, so act fast.
• Friday, the audiobook of Homer’s epic The Odyssey was released. This beautifully narrated masterpiece weaves together adventure, mythology, and poetic storytelling. Don’t miss out on owning this timeless work in an immersive audio format, which brings the legendary tale to life. Secure yours now to experience the power of ancient Greek literature in a captivating new way!
• Saturday, May the 4th, we minted two great books as a celebration of all things Star Wars:
• Dive into the philosophical depths of the galaxy with The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy by Eberl, Decker, and Irwin. This book provides a critical look at the profound questions raised by the epic saga, from the ethics of war to the nature of wisdom and power. Harness the power of the Force and add this essential read to your collection!
• Explore the depths of your Star Wars passion with Why We Love Star Wars by Ken Napzok. This engaging book offers a fresh take on the iconic elements and unforgettable moments that have made Star Wars a cornerstone of popular culture. Embrace the nostalgia and excitement by minting yours today.
• Minting This Week:
• Monday, we minted E.M. Forster’s beloved novel, A Room with a View. This enchanting tale weaves together romance and personal discovery against the captivating backdrops of Italy and England. This book is still minting, with rarities 000, 001, and 002 still up for grabs, but they won’t be for long, so don’t delay!
• Tuesday, we’re minting an audiobook as well as a reader edition book:
• Forge Master (Audiobook) by Seth Ring. Dive deep into this epic tale of adventure and ingenuity, where craftsmanship meets destiny in a spectacular fantasy setting. This audiobook brings to life the story of a skilled blacksmith who discovers ancient powers that could change the course of his world. It is perfect for fans of high-stakes drama and detailed world-building.
• Tao Te Ching (Reader Edition) by Laozi serves as a cornerstone of Taoist philosophy and a guide to living in harmony with the natural world. Want the collector’s edition? Head over to jpg.store and get one today.
• Wednesday, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice will be available as an audiobook, offering listeners a captivating journey through the romantic entanglements and social nuances of the 19th century. This narrated format breathes new life into Austen’s words, allowing listeners to experience Elizabeth Bennet’s wit and Mr. Darcy’s charm in a fresh and immersive way.
• Thursday will be a triple mint of The Strangest Things in the World by Thomas R. Henry. This book is an intriguing exploration of bizarre and inexplicable phenomena from around the globe. Engage with a treasure trove of the odd and the extraordinary, meticulously documented by Henry.
• Friday, we’re adding the Articles of Confederation to our popular Foundations of the United States series, providing a fascinating glimpse into the early framework of American government. This foundational document offers valuable insights into the principles and challenges faced by the newly formed United States.
• As if Friday couldn’t get any better, we’ll be airdropping the third book in the El Paso Verse, The Star and the Gun, for those of you who took part in the snapshot last Friday.
• Book in the Media: Josh had a great conversation today with David Gokhshtein; you can check it out here. We’ve also put up the full Book.io Conference interview with Ingram Content CFO Brian Dauphin here.
• Reddit AMA: We had an amazing time answering questions on Reddit; it was so much fun hanging out with you all. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, you really should; tons of alpha about self-publishing, RTE, and Josh’s beard.
• We Don’t Shave: We’re excited to announce that $BEARD is set to launch on CoinStore soon, marking several groundbreaking milestones: 1) It’s the first decentralized book to debut on a centralized exchange, 2) This may be the first instance of a community independently working to list a token on a CEX, and 3) It’s also the first time a community has organically developed a yield farm.
• Weekly Open Space — No space this week — We’re taking a brief break and will return next week with the latest Book.io news.

Minting Tuesday!
Forge Master — Minting on Cardano

Last month was incredible, and this month promises to be even more exciting. We’re thrilled to continue this journey with all of you as we build the future of books together.

Cheers,
The Book.io Team.

Join the Discussion:
1. Twitter
2. Discord
3. Reddit

• New App Updates: Moms Rejoice! We have just launched the new version of our mobile app for iOS and Android. They now boast an updated UX/UI and support social logins and audiobooks. We’d love it if you left a review!

Last Week’s Mints:

• Thursday, we added three reader editions of classic religious works to our ever-expanding library.
• Bhagavad-Gītā — a key Hindu scripture from the Mahabharata, presenting Arjuna and Krishna’s dialogue on duty, morality, and self-realization. Click here to own a piece of this spiritual legacy.
• The Book of Mormon — For followers of the Latter-day Saint movement, this book stands as a vital complement to the Bible, offering profound insights into God’s interactions with humanity and His plan for salvation. This text, revered by millions, informs the Latter-day Saint community’s beliefs, practices, and cultural identity. Immerse yourself in its teachings to explore its significance and impact.
• The Egyptian Book of the Dead — This collection of scrolls, available now as a single DEA, includes spells and rituals to aid the deceased in overcoming dangers and judgment in the afterlife. It also provides insights into Egyptian religious beliefs, cosmology, and funerary practices, emphasizing the continuity of life beyond death and the importance of proper burial rituals. Explore the minting page for a journey into one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
• Friday, if you purchased a ticket to our Book.io Con you received a special book airdrop. VIP ticket holders received 6 books, General Admission 4, and Virtual attendees 2. If you did not receive an airdrop please contact support@book.io.
• VIP Book — The Last Man by Mary Shelly follows the story of Lionel Verney, who narrates the tale of a world ravaged by a catastrophic plague that decimates humanity. There are currently only three listed for sale on jpg.store, so you’ll have to act fast if you want one for yourself.
• VIP Book — Ivanhoe by Walter Scott is set in 12th-century England. It follows the story of Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a Saxon knight who returns from the Crusades to find his homeland divided. I foresee this book being very difficult to acquire in the future, and only four are up for sale currently, so don’t delay!
• GA Book — The Wealth of Nations by Adam Scott provides an in-depth analysis of the nature and causes of a nation’s wealth, covering topics such as the division of labor, free markets, and the invisible hand theory. Smith’s insights have significantly influenced the fields of economics and political theory, laying the groundwork for modern capitalism and shaping economic policy worldwide. Make it a cornerstone of your library today.
• GA Book — The Cosmic Computer by H. Bean Piper unfolds on the distant planet Poictesme, where whispers of a supercomputer called “Merlin” have stirred ambitions for centuries. Follow Conn Maxwell as he navigates political intrigue, technological discovery, and adventure in this classic sci-fi tale. Unlock the secrets of “Merlin” and join the adventure!
• VA Book — The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky follows Prince Myshkin, a kind and naive man who returns to Russia after spending years abroad for medical treatment. Myshkin’s innocence and honesty stand in stark contrast to the deceit and corruption of the society he re-enters. Experience this timeless classic, and add it to your collection today.
• VA Book — Discourses by Epictetus is a collection of teachings from the renowned Stoic philosopher, transcribed and compiled by his student Arrian in the 2nd century AD. This book remains a foundational text in the study of Stoic philosophy, providing essential wisdom on managing emotions, maintaining inner peace, and leading a virtuous life. Enhance your understanding of Stoic philosophy and apply its lessons to everyday life with this crucial work.
• Saturday, we finished the week with reader editions of some of our most beloved books.
• Moby Dick by Herman Melville is a classic American novel that follows the journey of Captain Ahab, a man obsessed with revenge. The book delves into themes of obsession and the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition. This book is still minting, and can be purchased here using ADA or a credit card.
• Dracula by Bram Stoker, in which the sinister Count Dracula seeks to extend his undead influence from Transylvania to England. Embark on the dark journey that uncovers the struggle between good and evil. With rarities 0000, 0001, and 0002 still available, are you brave enough to own this terrifying tale?
• Minting This Week:
• Monday, we just did a flash mint of The Wizard Tim: A Romp in the Swamp by Tim Canada and Joseph Eleam as both an eBook and an Audiobook; if you act fast, you still might be able to mint a book here, and the audiobook here.
• We also just airdropped The Wizard Tim audiobook. If you weren’t able to participate in the snapshot and want to have a listen to accompany your slice of pie, you can get it here.
• Tuesday, Weird Music That Goes On Forever: A Punk’s Guide to Loving Jazz by Bob Suren is an irreverent guide to jazz, full of punk references and colorful language, explores the genre’s surprising history, scandalous etymology, and links to punk. Learn about over 25 notable jazz artists and get recommendations for your listening pleasure.
• In addition, as part of the OG Raffle, we will be airdropping The Prophet by Khalil Gibran. It’s the first book to feature the OG Book Club logo!
• Friday, The Odyssey (Audiobook) by Homer, tells the story of Odysseus’s decade-long journey home after the Trojan War. Facing mythical creatures, vengeful gods, and various challenges, he navigates obstacles with cunning while his wife Penelope and son Telemachus await his return in Ithaca. It is a foundational work of Western literature and a must for any collector.
• Saturday, is a sci-fi extravaganza as we mint two Star Wars-themed books.
• The first is The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy by Eberl, Decker, and Irwin. Covering the entire Star Wars universe, including films, novels, and comics, this volume provides comprehensive and thought-provoking explorations into the deeper meaning of the saga.
• The second is Why We Love Star Wars by Ken Napzok, which celebrates the enduring legacy of the Star Wars saga, exploring its impact on film buffs and super-fans alike. Through a countdown of iconic moments from movies, novels, comics, and television, we see how this franchise has grown into a cultural phenomenon that inspires discussions and debates.
• More From The Range: This is one of our favorite photos from our time out at Charles Hoskinson’s ranch. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
• Social Logins: Social logins are available for both web and mobile! Let’s onboard the masses!
• New Advisor For The Team: We are so excited that John Aden has signed on as an advisor! He has had an incredible career, click here to see all the details. We are so lucky to have him on board, and we couldn’t be happier.
• Reddit AMA: We’re looking forward to our second AMA on May 1, 18 UTC. During the AMA, we’ll be raffling off books in the comments and answering tons of questions about Charles’s Ranch, $BEARD, and recapping Book.io Con. Don’t miss it!
• New Listing: We have heard $BEARD is going to be listed on Coinstore, May 4th. If that wasn’t enough, we will soon take a snapshot of $BEARD holders. If you want more information about $BEARD, we did an X Space that you can listen to here.
• Weekly Open Space — AI Art class with Billy: Join us for an interactive session with Book.io’s seasoned AI engineer, Billy. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this screen-sharing session is your gateway to understanding and mastering the world of AI art.
• Where: Voice Lounge on Discord
• When: April 30, from 19:00 to 20:00 UTC

Minting Tuesday!
Weird Music That Goes On Forever — Minting on Cardano

We are so excited to be launching social logins, it’s yet another step towards onboarding the masses and building the future of books.

Cheers,
The Book.io Team.

Join the Discussion:
1. Twitter
2. Discord
3. Reddit

Book.io Updates

• Record Breaker: At Book.io Con, we minted a secret book on the back of the attendee badge: The Philosophy of Beards by Thomas S. Gowing. The book, quite progressive for its time, criticizes the then-popular trend of shaving and posits that the natural state of a man’s facial hair is both beneficial and aesthetically appropriate. In just 48 hours, we sold over 9 billion, making it the best-selling book in history. Want one? It’s available to purchase now on Minswap.
• Lots of questions have been pouring in about $BEARD. What is this new asset even called? Josh and Ben will jump onto an X Space tomorrow to discuss the Beard book and discuss the endless possibilities. The time for the space will be set tomorrow morning since they just got back from traveling.

Last Week’s Mints:

• Monday, we added A General View of Positivism by Auguste Comte to the Book.io shelves. Comte’s text, which lays the foundation for the philosophy of positivism and advocates for scientific approaches to societal issues, is now available for true digital ownership at jpg.store.
• Tuesday, we minted What is Property? by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. This cornerstone in the discussion of economic and property theories is still minting, with rarities 001, 002, and 005 available. This book is also part of our revolutionary Credit Cardano system, so you can mint using a credit card, as well as ADA, right now.
• Saturday, at Book.io Con, we continued our IRL series with 4 incredible books that sold out immediately:
• Embark on a spiritual journey from the infernal depths to celestial bliss with Dante Alighieri’s magisterial poem. The Divine Comedy serves as an allegory of the soul’s quest toward God, weaving together themes of theology, morality, and the human condition. Click here to truly own this timeless masterpiece.
• Discover the transformative power of nature through Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved novel, where a hidden, overgrown garden becomes a place of healing for three children. The Secret Garden celebrates the rejuvenating power of friendship and the natural world, captivating readers with its timeless charm. Very few DEAs are still available for sale, so act fast to get yours.
• Delve into the internal and external battles of a young Civil War soldier with Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage. This profound work explores the depths of fear and bravery, providing a gripping psychological portrait of war and heroism. Click here to purchase yours.
• Explore the dark and intricate tapestry of love, destiny, and social injustice in Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Set against the backdrop of the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, this novel vividly portrays the life and trials of its incredible characters. To add this classic to your library, visit jpg.store.
• Minting This Week: We’re still finalizing the schedule for the remainder of the week, but we can confirm that these mints are set for Thursday. Keep an eye on our socials for all the details.
• Thursday, we are minting the reader editions of three classic religious texts -
• The Egyptian Book of the Dead — a fascinating collection of texts that were used in ancient Egypt from around 1550 BC to 50 BC to guide the deceased through the trials of the underworld into the afterlife. It is not a single book but a compilation of spells, prayers, and incantations that were written on scrolls and included in the tombs and sarcophagi of the deceased. Available this Thursday in a single DEA.
• Bhagavad-Gītā — This sacred Hindu scripture, part of the epic Mahabharata, consists of a philosophical dialogue between the prince Arjuna and the God Krishna. Offering profound insights into duty and righteousness, the text guides through spiritual discipline and the pursuit of ethical conduct and self-realization. Its minting ensures that these timeless teachings are secured for continual global access and study.
• The Book of Mormon — This sacred text of the Latter-day Saint movement recounts the spiritual, political, and military history of ancient American peoples. Compiled by the prophet-historian Mormon and his son Moroni, it includes Jesus Christ’s teachings to the inhabitants of the Americas, emphasizing themes of redemption, faith, and the gathering of Israel.
• Book.io Con: We hosted our first-ever conference, Book.io Con 2024. A massive thank you to all who attended. It was incredible to see that so many of you traveled from out of state, and we were especially thrilled to welcome numerous international guests. Also, a tremendous thank you to the Book.io team for their exceptional work in making the conference a fantastic success — truly outstanding! We had some incredible speakers, including:
• Charles Hoskinson
• Rio Caraeff
• Sheila Dohmann
• Chad Hugghins
• Dr. Michael G. Thomas JR.
• Tim Canada
• Claire Israel
• Joseph Eleam
• Michael Kowski
• Travis Bailey
• Patrick Tobler
• Brian K. Dauphin
• Home On The Range: After the excitement of Book.io Con, Josh, and Ben were invited to Charles Hoskinson’s ranch in Wyoming to engage in conversations about the future of books and digital ownership, and to take a bunch of pictures of his ranch for his book. Let’s just say… it was friggin’ epic. We will post more pics on socials in the coming days. HUGE thanks to Charles and his team. Their hospitality is legendary, the ranch is a dream, and the laughs around the firepit will be remembered forever.
• Social Logins Coming Soon: We have submitted our iOS and Android apps to the App Store; the new versions support both social logins and audiobooks.
• Book.io Hackathon: We hosted our first-ever engineering summit and hackathon with Book.io staff from around the world!
• New Merch Alert: We introduced a wide range of brand-new merchandise.

Minting Thursday!
The Egyptian Book of the Dead — Minting on Cardano

So proud of the Book.io team for all the work they put in to make Book.io Con amazing. Are we tired? Yes. But we’ve also never been more excited about the future. We’re gonna catch a bit of sleep, then get back to building the future of books.

Cheers,
The Book.io Team.

Join the Discussion:
1. Twitter
2. Discord
3. Reddit

• Book.io Con: We’re thrilled to welcome everyone to our inaugural Book.io Conference this weekend! If you can attend in person, there are still a few General Admission tickets available, though VIP tickets have sold out. Use code 100offGeneralAdmission for a $100 discount. Can’t be there physically? No worries! You can still be part of the excitement virtually. Secure your online ticket with 30offLiveVirtual for $30 off. Tickets can be purchased here.
• Last Week’s Mints
• On Monday, we minted The Story of Eclipses by George F. Chambers; experience the awe and mystery of both solar and lunar eclipses as Chambers unfolds their influence over human history and imagination. Rarities 004 and 006 are still available; seize the opportunity to add this celestial exploration to your library by clicking here.
• Tuesday marked the exciting launch of The Reservoir by David Duchovny. This intriguing novel, available through both ADA and credit card, offers readers a unique glimpse into a mind grappling with existential themes during a pandemic-ridden New York City. As the protagonist reflects on his life from the solitude of his apartment, readers are drawn into a deeply personal journey set against a backdrop of widespread uncertainty. Don’t miss your chance to own this captivating work; visit the minting page before it’s too late. You can also listen to our interview with David here.
• Wednesday, we minted The Rest of the Story… so far by David Wilson, which compiled books 3 to 5 of the DeChance Chronicles into an exclusive Book.io bundle. This series offers a deep dive into the captivating world of Donovan DeChance, a mage who combines his sleuthing skills with profound occult knowledge. The deal was even more enticing for collectors as 20% of these DEAs came with a bonus novella. Click here to take advantage of this amazing deal.
• Thursday saw the successful triple minting of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. This enduring novel delves into the mischievous exploits of young Tom Sawyer, exploring themes of freedom, friendship, and the complexities of growing up along the banks of the Mississippi. It’s a classic of American literature and a must for any collector; here’s where to get yours -
• Cardano — jpg.store
• Poly — OpenSea.io
• Eth — OpenSea.io
• Friday, we turned our focus to the Federalist Papers, a pivotal work in American political theory. These essays, penned by prominent American founders, played a crucial role in persuading the public to adopt the U.S. Constitution and helped lay the groundwork for the United States’ system of government. They are a part of our Foundations of the United States series, which you can view here, and you can mint your own edition here.
• In addition, we successfully minted the reader edition of Webster’s Dictionary, utilizing both self-driven wallets and credit card payments for the first time. This breakthrough is a huge leap towards welcoming more users to our community, and we are delighted with the outcome. Click here to mint using this innovative process.
• Minting This Week:
• Monday, Auguste Comte’s A General View of Positivism has just sold out, but fear not! You can still acquire this groundbreaking look at the structure of society at jpg.store. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of philosophical history that continues to shape our understanding of the social world.
• Tuesday, we will be minting What is Property? by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. This work is known for its profound critique of ownership and property in the modern era. Explore this foundational text that questions the very essence of societal structures and personal rights.
• CREDIT CARDANO IS LIVE: We have officially launched credit card payments for Cardano mints -Credit Cardano — as we refer to it internally. You can try it out yourself with the following books.
• The Reservoir by David Duchovny
• Webster’s Dictionary
• Manske Spins the Wheel of Destiny: Watch as Manske gives away a ton of great prizes.
• Launching Social Logins: Soon, you’ll be able to log in using your favorite sites like Gmail or Twitter! A huge step towards onboarding the masses.
• Book in the Media: Josh and Ben hopped on to the Clays After Dark X Space; the interview starts at the 9-minute mark.
• Delist those Gutes!: The Gute Snapshot is on April 19th, so remember to delist, or you won’t get your $BOOK airdrop.
• Weekly Open Space on Discord — The Gateway to Mass Adoption: Prepare to join us for a vibrant discussion as we explore the next steps toward mass adoption. Co-hosted by Book.io team member and creator of the legendary Gutenbot: Fede!
• When: Tuesday, April 16th, 19–20 UTC.
• This week’s topics include:
• Mass Adoption Moves: Book.io recently released functions for credit card payments and self-directed wallets in addition to announcing the MEXC listing. What’s next for mass adoption, and how do we transition from collector to reader editions?
• Book.io Con Preview: Get the scoop on the long-anticipated Book.io Con, happening on April 20th, including a rundown of announced speakers and a hint at an exciting book announcement by Charles Hoskinson.
• Location: Discord — Section: Book Club — Channel: Voice Lounge.

Minting Tuesday!
What is Property? — Minting on Cardano.

We’re eagerly anticipating Book.io Con, where we’ll meet all the incredible people with whom we’re building the future of books!
Cheers,
The Book.io Team.

Join the Discussion:
1. Twitter
2. Discord
3. Reddit