In Montréal’s Mile End, where graffiti kisses brick and café chatter hums, Éloïse sits in a dimly lit loft, scrolling Librairie Formats’ online catalog. Her fingers pause on a feminist zine, its cover a riot of pink and black. “What if this cover was an NFT?” she murmurs, eyes alight. “What if it funded a whole new book?” In 2025, as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) reshape art’s economy, Éloïse’s dream isn’t just a spark—it’s a blaze. Could Librairie Formats, a beacon of contemporary art books, harness NFTs to fund a publishing revolution?
Formats has championed niche voices—feminist theory, sound art, critical essays—since 2012, curating a catalog that’s more manifesto than merchandise. But small presses face big hurdles: printing costs, distribution woes, and a world that undervalues the avant-garde. Enter NFTs, digital assets on blockchain that could turn book covers into collectibles, their sales fueling new titles. This is Éloïse’s story, and a vision for how Formats could lead Montréal’s next art book wave.
The NFT Buzz: Art Meets Blockchain
NFTs are no fleeting hype. These unique digital tokens, etched on blockchain, let artists sell everything from pixelated punks to virtual sculptures. In 2025, they’re a lifeline for creators, with platforms like OpenSea buzzing with art collectors. For Librairie Formats, NFTs could be a game-changer. Imagine a digital cover of Understanding the Art of Sound Organization by Leigh Landy sold as an NFT, its proceeds funding a new zine on Montréal’s electroacoustic scene.
Crypto’s financial potential isn’t new—look at sports betting platforms reviewed on https://ordb.co/gambling/sportsbooks/, where blockchain ensures fast, secure transactions. NFTs take that logic to art, offering transparency and ownership. For Formats, this means bypassing traditional publishing’s gatekeepers, letting artists and readers directly support niche books. It’s not just tech—it’s a rebellion against a system that starves small presses.
Éloïse’s Vision: A Cover That Sparks a Movement
Éloïse, 24, is no tech bro. She’s a painter, her Mile End studio a chaos of canvases and coffee cups. Browsing Formats’ “Art & Féminisme” section, she finds Ain’t I a Woman, its cover a bold collage of feminist icons. Inspired, she sketches a digital version—swirling pinks, jagged text, a nod to Montréal’s riot grrrl zines. “This could be an NFT,” she thinks, “and sell for enough to publish more.”
She logs to OpenSea, minting her design as an NFT. Her artist statement is fierce: “This cover’s my scream for feminist art—buy it, and we print the unheard.” She emails Formats, pitching a partnership: sell her NFT, fund a zine anthology by women artists. The price? 0.5 ETH, about $500, enough for a small run. Within days, a local collector bites, and Éloïse’s cover becomes a digital torch, lighting the way for Formats’ next project.
Making It Real: Formats’ Crypto Canvas Project
Éloïse’s idea could scale into something big. Librairie Formats could launch a “Crypto Canvas Project,” inviting artists to create NFT covers for its catalog. Here’s how it might unfold:
- Call for Submissions: Artists design digital covers for books like Art & Activism or new zines, reflecting Formats’ avant-garde ethos.
- Mint and Sell: Formats partners with eco-friendly platforms like Tezos-based Hic et Nunc, minting NFTs with clear pricing (e.g., 0.1–2 ETH).
- Community Hype: Host a virtual launch event, livestreamed from a Montréal gallery, with artists discussing their designs and NFTs’ potential. Promote via Instagram with #FormatsCryptoArt.
Formats could collaborate with local collectives like Atelier Céleste, ensuring diverse voices—Indigenous, feminist, queer—shape the project. Proceeds would fund new titles, like a book on Montréal’s street art scene, keeping the cycle spinning. It’s a model that’s part art, part revolution, all Formats.
Opportunities and Impact
The payoff could be huge. Financially, a single NFT sale at 1 ETH ($2,000) could cover a zine’s production, while a dozen could fund a hardcover like The Art of Sound Organization. Culturally, it’s a megaphone for marginalized artists, letting Formats publish feminist manifestos or Indigenous art critiques that big presses ignore. Montréal, already a global art hub, would cement its rep as a crypto-art pioneer.
The ripple effects are electric. A successful “Crypto Canvas” could inspire other small presses, creating a network of NFT-funded publishers. Formats might host workshops, teaching artists to mint NFTs, democratizing crypto art. Éloïse’s zine could spark gallery shows, zine fairs, or even a podcast, amplifying Formats’ reach. This isn’t just publishing—it’s a movement, redefining who gets to tell art’s stories.
Navigating the Risks
NFTs aren’t flawless. Early 2021’s Ethereum mining burned carbon like a coal plant, and market crashes have stung naive investors. Accessibility’s another hurdle—not every artist has the crypto know-how or cash to mint. Formats, rooted in ethics, must tread carefully.
Solutions exist. Use Tezos or Ethereum’s green updates to slash emissions—Hic et Nunc’s low-energy minting is a start. Offer low-cost NFTs (e.g., $50) to widen access, and pair sales with free crypto workshops, teaching artists the ropes. Most crucially, keep profits transparent: every ETH goes to books, not speculation. Formats’ mission—art for thought, not greed—must lead, ensuring NFTs serve the community, not exploit it.
Join the Revolution
Éloïse’s NFT cover sold, but her dream’s just beginning. She sees a Montréal where every Formats book is a canvas, every NFT a seed for new voices. In 2025, Librairie Formats could lead an art book revolution, blending blockchain’s edge with art’s soul. Imagine a zine fair in Mile End, funded by NFT sales, where feminist artists trade ideas under neon lights. That’s the future we’re building.
Want in? Submit an NFT cover design to Formats, join our virtual launch, or grab a book from our catalog. Share your vision with #FormatsCryptoArt or comment below. As Éloïse says, “One NFT, one book, one step toward a louder art world.” Let’s make it scream.