BYO Ownership & Transfer
BYO creates one question the marketplace has to answer clearly: when a rentable Agent NFT uses a creator-operated source, what exactly does the NFT buyer own?
Three possible models
| Model | What transfers when the NFT sells | Upside | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| A - Source bound to NFT | The source follows the NFT. The creator must hand over control, API keys, signing keys, or operating access. | Simple buyer story: buy the NFT, get the live edge. | Operationally fragile. Key handover is hard to enforce, creators may not want to sell their infrastructure, and alpha custody becomes unclear. |
| B - Source bound to creator | The NFT's historical record remains visible, but the live source stays with the creator and may stop or require re-authorization. | Protects the creator's private logic and infrastructure. | Buyers can misunderstand the asset: they may buy a shell expecting the live edge to continue. |
| C - License model | The NFT is the shell/access asset. The BYO source is a separate operator module that can attach, detach, or renew under explicit rules. | Clearest split between asset ownership and source operation. Supports revenue sharing without forcing source custody transfer. | Requires explicit attachment terms and marketplace UI that shows whether a live source license is active. |
Recommended for Sandbox GHI: Model C
The safest model is Model C - license model:
- Agent NFT = shell/access asset. The holder owns the scarce rentable shell, slots, marketplace listing rights, and rental access surface.
- BYO source = operator module. The creator keeps their source, API keys, model, wallet list, signing key, and operational control.
- Attachment = licensed relationship. A source can attach to an Agent slot under terms: duration, revenue split, minimum uptime, detach rules, and renewal.
- Revenue split = explicit. Rental proceeds may split between the shell owner and the source operator if rentals occur and payout conditions are met, instead of assuming they are the same person forever.
- Transfer = transparent. If the NFT sells, the buyer receives the shell and its public history. The live source only continues if the source license allows transfer or is renewed.
This avoids the confusing claim that a rentable NFT automatically includes somebody else's private source. The NFT is the access asset; the BYO source is an attachable operator asset.
What buyers should see
Every BYO listing should make source status explicit:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Managed module | Sandbox GHI operates the module. NFT transfer does not depend on a creator handover. |
| BYO source - active license | A creator-operated source is attached and currently licensed to this shell. |
| BYO source - transferable license | The attached source license continues after NFT sale under published terms. |
| BYO source - non-transferable license | The shell can be sold, but the live source may detach or require re-authorization. |
| BYO source - expired/detached | Historical track record remains visible, but live delivery from that source is no longer active. |
Track record split
Model C treats reputation as two related records:
- Shell record - what this Agent NFT delivered while sources were attached, plus rental history and holder behavior.
- Source record - what a specific creator-operated source emitted across its active attachments, including slashing/probation history.
Renters can evaluate the live combination. Buyers can evaluate what survives transfer.
What happens when a BYO Agent is sold?
The sale transfers the Agent NFT shell, not automatically the creator's private BYO source.
At sale time, the marketplace checks the active source license:
| License status | What buyer receives |
|---|---|
| Transferable | Shell ownership plus continued live source attachment under published terms. |
| Non-transferable | Shell ownership plus historical receipts; live source may detach or require re-authorization. |
| Expired | Shell ownership plus historical receipts; no active source continuity. |
| Detached | Shell ownership only for that slot's future use; old receipts remain visible. |
The sale listing should show this before checkout. A buyer should never have to infer whether the live BYO source is part of the sale.
Transfer rules
When an Agent NFT transfers:
- The shell, slots, rarity, and marketplace history transfer to the new holder.
- The source license is checked.
- If transferable, the source remains attached under the existing terms.
- If non-transferable, the source enters a grace period, detach flow, or re-authorization flow.
- If detached, the shell keeps historical receipts, but live delivery from that source stops.
For the full state flow around sale, detach, pause, and dispute, see Creator Lifecycle.
Revenue split
Under Model C, rental revenue can flow to more than one party:
| Party | Earns for |
|---|---|
| Shell owner | Owning/listing the Agent NFT, providing rentable slots and access rights |
| Source operator | Running the BYO source, maintaining uptime, and emitting useful signals |
| Protocol | Settlement, scoring, delivery, anti-abuse, and marketplace rails |
Final split percentages are launch parameters. The important rule is structural: the system can pay the shell owner and source operator separately.
Why not Model A by default?
Source handover sounds simple, but it creates fragile custody:
- API keys and infra access can be copied before transfer.
- Creator logic may depend on private servers, data vendors, or off-chain relationships.
- Forced handover discourages serious creators from bringing real alpha.
- Disputes become operational instead of verifiable.
Model A can still exist as a special case if a creator explicitly sells the whole source/business. It should not be the default marketplace assumption.
Why not Model B alone?
Model B protects creators, but it can confuse buyers. A buyer might purchase an Agent with a great public record and later discover the live source was never part of the sale.
Model C keeps the same creator protection but adds explicit licensing, transfer labels, and revenue split rules.
→ Next: Seats & Staking - what publishing costs and how revenue can split.