Web3/Blockchain2025

ChainBooks

A blockchain-powered e-book marketplace built on NEAR Protocol, enabling users to browse, purchase, and instantly download curated e-books using cryptocurrency.

Live Demo

Next.jsTypeScriptReactSupabaseNEAR ProtocolTailwind CSSShadcn UI

Project Overview

ChainBooks is a decentralized e-book marketplace built on NEAR Protocol. Users can browse a curated collection of books on blockchain, programming, AI, and design — then purchase them instantly using wNEAR cryptocurrency via PingPay.

The platform combines traditional e-commerce UX with blockchain-powered payments, offering a seamless way to buy books with crypto while maintaining full transparency and no middlemen.

Key Features

Crypto Payments — Pay with wNEAR via PingPay, fully on-chain and verifiable
Instant Downloads — Immediate PDF access after successful payment, no DRM
User Dashboard — Track purchases, total spent, and download history
Google OAuth — Simple sign-in with Google via Supabase Auth
Dark/Light Theme — System-aware theme switching

Technologies Used

Frontend

Technology	Purpose
Next.js 16	App Router, React Server Components
React 19	Modern component-based UI
Tailwind CSS v4	Utility-first responsive styling
shadcn/ui	Accessible, production-ready components
Lucide React	Icon library
TypeScript	End-to-end type safety

Backend & Blockchain

Technology	Purpose
Supabase	PostgreSQL database, Auth, Row-Level Security
PingPay	wNEAR payment processing on NEAR Protocol
NEAR Protocol	Blockchain layer for trustless payments
Webhooks	HMAC SHA256 verified payment confirmation

How It Works

Browse — Explore the curated collection of e-books with detailed descriptions
Purchase — Click "Buy with NEAR" and complete payment via PingPay checkout
Download — After payment confirmation, PDF is instantly available in your dashboard

The entire payment flow settles on-chain via NEAR Protocol, ensuring transparency and security without intermediaries.

Architecture Highlights

Payment Flow

User clicks "Buy with NEAR"
  → POST /api/orders (creates PingPay session + pending purchase)
  → Redirect to PingPay hosted checkout
  → User completes wNEAR payment
  → PingPay webhook confirms payment (HMAC SHA256 verified)
  → Purchase status updated to "completed"
  → PDF available for download in dashboard

Database Design

Books table — Stores book metadata, pricing in NEAR, download URLs
Purchases table — Tracks payment sessions, verification status, user purchases
Row-Level Security — Users can only access their own purchase records

Security

HMAC SHA256 webhook verification prevents payment spoofing
Supabase RLS ensures data isolation between users
Server-side authentication checks on all protected routes

Challenges & Solutions

1. Blockchain Payment Integration

Challenge: Integrating NEAR Protocol payments into a traditional web app while maintaining a smooth UX.

Solution: Used PingPay as a payment abstraction layer, handling the complexity of blockchain transactions while providing a familiar checkout experience. The webhook-based verification ensures payments are confirmed on-chain before granting access.

2. Real-time Payment Status

Challenge: Users need immediate feedback after completing a crypto payment, but blockchain confirmations aren't instant.

Solution: Implemented a polling mechanism on the payment status page that checks verification every 3 seconds, with a 5-minute timeout. Combined with webhook processing, this provides near-instant confirmation for most transactions.

Results

0% DRM — No lock-in, users own their purchased books
< 30s Checkout — Fast payment flow from click to confirmation
On-chain Verification — Every payment is verifiable on NEAR blockchain
Instant Access — No waiting period after payment confirmation