Instead, they purchase a revocable license to access the content. While convenient for distribution, this licensing model creates multiple systemic problems that undermine the principles of IP, fair compensation, and long-term control.
It's a system where centralized entities dictate terms, retain ultimate control over digital libraries, and leave both creators and consumers with limited rights. This inherent flaw became an obsession for Book.io co-founders Joshua Stone and Ben Illian, who recognized the urgent need to transition from a licensing model to one of true, verifiable digital ownership to unlock the full potential of IP in the digital age.
To achieve this ambitious goal, the platform introduced Decentralized Encrypted Assets (DEAs) on the Cardano blockchain. This groundbreaking approach transformed digital books into verifiable, ownable, and transferable assets capable of generating perpetual royalties. By leveraging blockchain technology, Book.io directly addressed and overcame the inherent limitations of traditional digital publishing's licensing model, paving the way for a new era of digital ownership.
The Cardano Foundation, in collaboration with Book.io, is actively demonstrating the transformative potential of blockchain-powered ownership for digital assets and intellectual property. Beyond unveiling the 2025 Cardano Ecosystem Guide at the World Economic Forum (WEF) — an event that saw 1,000 redemption cards distributed for on-chain copies of the guide — the Foundation further showcased this innovation with the launch of I Can Aiken. This marked its first on-chain book in partnership with Book.io, distributing 2,000 copies as part of a content pilot for Cardano Academy. These initiatives clearly illustrate how decentralized technologies are redefining the future of digital content ownership.
The process of creating and managing a Decentralized Encrypted Asset (DEA) on Book.io is a comprehensive blend of blockchain immutability, decentralized storage, and cryptographic security.
Digital book title becomes a unique digital asset on the Cardano blockchain.
Content is encrypted and stored decentrally, eliminating single points of failure.
Smart contracts define the creator’s access, transfers, and royalties.
The unique digital asset is an access key and integrates blockchain-native Digital Rights Management (DRM).
Get in touch with our team