Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need crypto to read on Knovel?

No. You can browse, discover, and read books on Knovel without a wallet or any knowledge of crypto. A wallet is only required if you want to publish or create derivative works.

Is Knovel free to read?

Yes. Reading on Knovel is free. Some authors may choose to offer premium or paid content in the future — if so, it will be clearly marked before you start reading.

How does discovery work — how do books trend?

Trending on Knovel is driven by real reader engagement over a rolling 30-day window. The three signals are finishes (highest weight), likes, and new author follows. There are no promoted placements or paid rankings — what trends is what readers are genuinely engaging with.

What are derivative works?

Derivative works are creative works that build on an existing published book — fanfiction, translations, and adaptations. Authors control whether derivatives are permitted and under what terms. If an author has enabled derivatives, you’ll see the option on their book page.

Can I download books to read offline?

Not currently. Offline reading is on our roadmap. For now, books are read through Knovel’s built-in reader.

How does my reading progress sync across devices?

Progress syncs automatically when you’re logged into the same account. Open Knovel on any device and you’ll pick up where you left off.

Can I leave a negative review?

Yes. Critical reviews are welcome as long as they engage with the book itself, not the author personally. Knovel does not remove negative reviews that follow the content guidelines.

Do I need a crypto wallet to publish?

Yes. Publishing on Knovel requires a connected wallet because your book is registered as an IP asset on-chain when you publish. Your wallet address is what identifies you as the creator on the blockchain. If you don’t have a wallet yet, see our Getting Started guide.

What does “on-chain IP registration” actually mean for me?

When you publish, Knovel registers your book on Story Protocol — an open blockchain protocol for intellectual property. This creates a permanent, public record that you are the creator of this work, tied to your wallet address. It’s verifiable by anyone and controlled by no one, including Knovel. Think of it as a timestamped proof of authorship that lives outside any single platform.

What happens if Knovel shuts down — do I lose my work?

Your on-chain IP registration exists independently of Knovel on Story Protocol. Your content metadata is stored on IPFS, a decentralized storage network. Neither of these depends on Knovel’s servers. Your authorship record and content would remain accessible even if Knovel ceased to operate. Your profile, reading history, reviews, and earnings records are stored in Knovel’s database and would not be recoverable in a shutdown scenario.

How do I get paid?

Authors earn from direct reader payments on the platform. Earnings are tracked in your dashboard and paid out on the schedule shown in your account settings. If you’ve enabled Commercial Remix licensing, royalties from derivative works are distributed automatically on-chain through Story Protocol’s royalty module.

Can I use a pen name?

Yes. Your display name on Knovel can be anything — it doesn’t have to be your real name. Your wallet address is what’s recorded on-chain, not your display name. You can publish entirely under a pen name.

What license should I choose?

It depends on what you want for your work and your reader community.

• All Rights Reserved — no derivative works permitted. Standard copyright. Best if you want full control over how your IP is used.
• Non-Commercial Social Remixing — allows fanfiction, translations, and adaptations for non-commercial use. Best if you want an active fan community without enabling commercial derivatives.
• Commercial Remix — allows commercial derivatives with a royalty share flowing back to you. Best if you want to enable a creator ecosystem around your work and participate in its revenue.

You can change your license settings after publishing. Changes apply to new derivatives going forward — existing derivatives continue under the terms in place when they were created.

Can I unpublish a book?

You can remove a book from public view on Knovel at any time from your dashboard. Your on-chain IP registration is permanent and cannot be deleted — that’s by design. Unpublishing only affects visibility on the platform.

Can I edit a chapter after publishing?

Yes. You can edit published chapters at any time. Edits are not recorded on-chain — only the initial publication is. There is no version history currently, so save a copy externally if you need to preserve an older version.

What happens to my derivative work permissions if I change my license?

Updating your license only affects new derivative works registered after the change. Existing derivative works continue under the license terms that were in place when they were created.

Can I publish under a wallet I share with someone else?

We strongly advise against it. Your wallet address is your identity on Knovel and your on-chain proof of authorship. Sharing a wallet means sharing that identity and any associated earnings. Use a wallet you control exclusively.

What blockchain is Knovel on?

Knovel currently operates on Story Protocol’s Aeneid testnet. This is a test network, which means transactions are free and the infrastructure is being proven before mainnet launch. Mainnet migration is planned.

Is my content stored on the blockchain?

Not directly. Your book content is stored on IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) via Pinata, a decentralized storage network. What’s stored on the blockchain is a hash — a unique fingerprint that points to your content on IPFS. This means the blockchain record proves what your content was at the time of registration, while the content itself lives on IPFS.

Can Knovel change my rights without my permission?

No. Your license terms are recorded on-chain and can only be updated by a transaction signed by your wallet. Knovel does not have the ability to modify your on-chain records.

What wallet should I use?

Knovel connects via Thirdweb and supports MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, and any WalletConnect-compatible wallet. If you’re new to crypto wallets, MetaMask is the most straightforward starting point — it’s a free browser extension.

What if I lose access to my wallet?

Your IP assets are tied to your wallet address. If you lose access to your wallet, you lose the ability to update your on-chain rights settings and receive on-chain royalty payments. Knovel cannot recover access to a lost wallet. Keep your seed phrase stored securely and privately — it is the only way to recover a wallet.

What if I transfer my IP asset NFT?

Transferring your IP asset NFT transfers the on-chain ownership record to the new holder. Future on-chain royalties would flow to their wallet, not yours. This is a significant and irreversible action. Do not transfer your IP asset unless you fully understand the implications.

Do you have a mobile app?

Not yet. Knovel is accessible on mobile browsers and the web experience is optimized for mobile. A dedicated iOS and Android app is on the roadmap.