NFB Types: What Is Publishing Tokenization and How Does It Work?

NFB Types: What Is Publishing Tokenization and How Does It Work?

Digital publishing has grown but something essential has been missing: ownership. Today, when you “buy” an e-book, in most cases you are only granted a temporary license. You cannot transfer it, resell it, or pass it on. If the platform shuts down, your access disappears with it. Publishing tokenization addresses this gap by transforming books and publications into verifiable, manageable digital assets on the blockchain, making ownership, royalties, and revenue sharing transparent and programmable. At NFBChain, this approach is called NFB. In this article, we explain NFB asset classes, their use cases, and how they work from a technical perspective.

What Is an NFB?

An NFB is the blockchain-based digital representation of a book. Technically, it is most commonly modeled using ERC-721. However, calling it simply an “NFT” would be misleading because NFBs are not about collectibles alone.

What truly defines an NFB is:

  • Verifiable ownership: Ownership is provable on-chain
  • Traceability: Primary and secondary sales history is transparent
  • Programmable royalties: Royalty rules are embedded in smart contracts
  • Transparent revenue: Income flows and distributions are auditable

In short, an NFB is not a file, it is a rule-based digital asset.

What Does Tokenization Solve in Publishing?

Tokenization removes books from closed platforms and connects them to an open, measurable, and automated economic model.

1) Automated royalty and revenue sharing

Smart contracts split revenues automatically at the moment of sale. Royalties can continue on secondary sales .

2) Transparent reporting

Sales, resales, and royalty distributions are fully traceable on-chain.

3) Faster payouts

Instead of traditional 120–240 day settlement periods, instant on-chain distribution becomes possible.

4) The return of digital ownership

Readers move from being license holders to actual owners, under defined conditions.

Publishing Tokenization Explained

Tokenization means representing an asset as a blockchain-native unit.

In publishing, this means:

  • Book copies can be minted with limited or unlimited supply
  • Each copy is represented as an ERC-721 NFT in a user’s wallet
  • Every sale and transfer is recorded on-chain
  • Royalties are distributed automatically via smart contracts

In essence, a book is no longer just “a file to read” it becomes a digital asset you own.

NFB Asset Classes on NFBChain

NFBChain defines three primary asset classes:

A) Digital NFB

The most common use case: standard digital books.

Key features ;

  • Edition-based supply: e.g. 999 / 9,999 / unlimited
  • Secondary market enabled: Users can resell or transfer ownership
  • Perpetual royalties: Authors and publishers earn from resales
  • Access control: Content is opened only via the NFB Marketplace Reader

Best suited for ;

  • Books with broad readership
  • Series and episodic content
  • Pre-sales and campaign-based launches
B) Rare NFB

A premium asset class with strong collectible value.

Example content

  • Signed special editions
  • Unpublished works or drafts
  • Manuscripts and archival documents
  • Limited “collector editions”

Key features

  • Single or very limited supply
  • Secondary sales with enforced royalty rules
  • Special logic via edition flags such as is Rare

If physical delivery is involved

  • NFT ownership remains on-chain
  • Physical fulfillment requires off-chain logistics processes

Best suited for ;

  • Collectors
  • Premium content monetization
  • Authors and publishers focused on brand value

C) Shelf Products / Physical Book Orders

This class connects Web3 with real-world commerce.

How it works

  • Users order physical books through the platform
  • Order records can be referenced on-chain
  • Optionally, users receive a Proof-of-Purchase NFT, which can be used for:
  • Collecting
  • Access or discounts
  • Loyalty and future benefits

Key distinction

In this model:

  • NFT ≠ the book itself
  • NFT = digital proof, membership, or loyalty token
  • Book = physical logistics process

Best suited for

  • Publishers with strong print distribution
  • Loyalty and repeat-purchase strategies
  • “Soft onboarding” of Web2 users into Web3

The Technical Layer: How Are NFBs Defined?

On NFBChain, each book is minted using an edition-based model.

Example edition parameters:

  • isbn: Publishing catalog identifier
  • maxSupply: Maximum mintable supply for the edition
  • royaltyBps: Royalty rate
  • isRare: Collectible classification flag

Why an edition-based model?

Because publishing naturally involves:

  • Multiple editions of the same book
  • Strict supply control
  • Immutable royalty rules

Royalties and Secondary Sales Logic

In traditional publishing, authors and publishers typically earn only from the first sale.

With the NFB model, secondary sales become part of the value loop:

  • When an NFT is sold, the smart contract calculates royalties via royaltyInfo()
  • Royalties are distributed automatically to rights holders
  • Revenue sharing between seller, platform, and creators becomes transparent

As a result, a book is no longer a one-time consumable product, it becomes a continuously value-generating asset.

From the Reader’s Perspective

In this model, readers:

  • Become owners of the book
  • Can resell, transfer, or collect editions
  • Gain exposure to rare editions with potential value appreciation
  • Access community benefits and exclusive events

Most importantly:

Everyone who creates value participates in the same economy.

Publishing Is Becoming an On-Chain Economy

NFBChain’s mission is to transform publishing from closed, one-sided systems into a new standard built on:

  • Ownership
  • Programmable royalties
  • Transparent revenue sharing

NFB asset types represent the product layer of this standard:

  • Digital NFB: mass adoption and active secondary markets
  • Rare NFB: premium and collectible value
  • Physical shelf products: a bridge from Web2 to Web3

Publishing is entering a new era one where ownership, royalties, and revenue are transparent and on-chain.

With NFBChain, authors, publishers, readers, and collectors meet within the same value loop. Join NFBChain and take your place in the future of publishing.

What is the NFB ?

NFB is a blockchain-based digital publishing model that transforms books from access-only licenses into truly ownable digital assets. In traditional digital publishing, readers usually purchase limited access tied to a platform, without the ability to transfer, resell, or fully control the content they pay for. With NFBs, a book is minted as a unique on-chain asset, giving the reader verifiable ownership recorded on the blockchain. This allows books to be transferred, gifted, or resold on secondary markets while preserving transparent ownership history. At the same time, NFBs enable programmable royalties, ensuring that authors and publishers automatically receive their share whenever the book changes hands. As a result, NFB introduces a more transparent, fair, and sustainable digital publishing ecosystem built on true ownership rather than temporary access.

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