Story Mainnet launch approaching, which projects are worth watching?
TechFlow Selected TechFlow Selected
Story Mainnet launch approaching, which projects are worth watching?
The Story ecosystem is becoming one of the most exciting innovations in Web3.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsWritten by: Defi0xJeff, founder of steak studio
Translated by: Ashley, BlockBeats
Editor's note: Story is reshaping intellectual property (IP) management in the Web3 era by enabling decentralized registration, licensing, and monetization, empowering creators with greater control. This article outlines core concepts and popular projects within the Story ecosystem, demonstrating how IP can become tradable and collaborative.
Below is the original content (slightly edited for clarity):
In 1935, "Happy Birthday to You" was widely believed to have entered the public domain—until it turned out otherwise. The Hill sisters had actually registered the copyright, which was later acquired by Warner/Chappell Music and used to charge hefty royalties for its use in films, TV shows, and even public birthday parties. In 2013, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Nelson formally challenged this copyright while producing a film titled *Happy Birthday*.
Fast forward to 2018, Match Group (Tinder’s parent company) sued Bumble, accusing it of copying Tinder’s iconic swipe-to-match mechanism. Founded by a former Tinder employee, Bumble countersued, claiming Match Group was attempting an acquisition through intimidation. The central dispute? Who owns the right to “swipe right to match.”
By 2021, MSCHF released 666 customized Nike Air Max 97 sneakers named “Satan Shoes,” featuring Satanic symbols, human blood embedded in the soles, and coordinated promotion with Lil Nas X’s *Montero* music video. Nike immediately filed a lawsuit—even though MSCHF independently modified the shoes, their design still relied on Nike’s registered trademark, Air Max.
No matter how these cases concluded, imagine if all these IPs were registered on @StoryProtocol. Story could ensure fair attribution, streamline licensing, and foster a more collaborative ecosystem.
More importantly, it could turn these IPs into tradable assets, allowing creators to seamlessly monetize their work while preserving respect for the original creative vision.
What is Story?
To fully understand all concepts, reading the whitepaper is recommended. But in short, Story provides:
Programmable IP
Story Protocol allows creators to register their intellectual property on the blockchain, making it “programmable.” This means IP rights, licensing terms, and monetization rules can be encoded into smart contracts, enabling automated licensing and royalty distribution.
Example: As a creator, you could set specific conditions—such as allowing the community to launch meme coins based on your IP, but requiring that [x]% of the token supply be allocated to the original creator. These conditions are automatically enforced via smart contracts, ensuring fair distribution and compliance without intermediaries.
Tokenization of IP Assets
Story enhances liquidity by placing intellectual property on-chain and tokenizing it. Story ensures any IP asset can always be licensed, traded, and monetized, while maintaining legal protection and ownership. This model financializes IP value, unlocking new opportunities for IP holders, investors, and global fans.
Story also features a built-in PT/YT mechanism similar to @pendle_fi, separating IP ownership (represented by NFTs) from cash flows / royalty income streams. This separation offers greater flexibility in managing and monetizing IP assets. Interestingly, market developments now include Pendle-like protocols for tokenizing royalty rights, allowing investors to speculate on future royalty yields.
Before diving into the core protocol, it’s important to emphasize that the Story ecosystem is becoming one of the most compelling narratives of this cycle. With diverse use cases and strategic partnerships, Story L1 may soon host major intellectual properties—including hit songs from top global artists, massive community-built IP universes (potentially rivaling *Star Wars*), and AI-generated IP ecosystems.
Popular Projects in the Story Ecosystem
Aria
IP Tokenization + RWAs (Real World Assets) = Super Combo
Aria brings top-tier IPs like Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” on-chain, enabling anyone to invest in or build upon their favorite songs, books, movies, artworks, patents, brands, or AI training data—essentially any asset.
Currently, Aria has tokenized two IPs, including Miley Cyrus & Dua Lipa’s “Prisoner.”
These IPs are part of Aria Premiere Launch, a collaboration between Aria and @Stake_Stone, which raised $7 million in just nine minutes. The funds were used to acquire over 50 partial publishing and performance rights, generating revenue through Web2 royalty streams, Story, Aria, and StakeStone.
Rumors suggest a leading Korean idol brand (starting with the letter B) might be the next acquisition target.
IPdotWorld
Remember Chill Guy and the $CHILLGUY meme coin anonymously launched on CT? The original creator, “Philip Banks,” attempted to reclaim rights but ultimately failed.
This is exactly where @ipdotworld comes in—it provides a platform linking meme coins directly to verified intellectual property. When a meme coin is launched, a portion of its supply is reserved for authenticated IP owners, ensuring creators receive their rightful share.
Verio
@verio_story serves as the $IP staking layer and IP verification service within the Story ecosystem.
By staking $IP, users vouch for asset authenticity, helping filter out fraudulent IP claims. Similar to Ethereum’s restaking mechanism, $IP staking leverages cryptoeconomic trust to verify intellectual property.
$vIP (the LST version) functions like stETH and can be used across DeFi applications in the Story ecosystem.
Jutsu World
@JutsuTCG is an on-chain card game in the Story ecosystem using an enhanced ERC404 standard, featuring dynamic re-minting mechanics to enrich gameplay.
Projects Planning Token/NFT Launches on the Story Mainnet
Benjamin / Unleashed
@BenjaminOnIp is the first DeFAI agent in the Story ecosystem, aiming to become the gateway to DeFi on Story.
Managed by @UnleashProtocol, a leading money market and IP launch platform in the Story ecosystem.
Unleash Protocol plans to evolve AI agents into personalized IP characters—not just mascots or memes—but potentially interactive personas modeled after figures like Thomas Shelby or Steve Jobs.
Benjamin is scheduled to launch its token on @FjordFoundry, expected within 24 hours.
What the Freg
@WhatTheFreg is the first AI-agent-driven meme coin in the Story ecosystem, leveraging Story’s TCP/IP standard (a protocol allowing AI agents to trade IP within the Story ecosystem).
Positioned as Pepe’s archenemy, it aims to challenge counterfeit and impersonation culture in Web3 memes.
SoloAI
@SoloAI_Agent, backed by @sequoia, is an AI-powered music creation platform that enables anyone to easily create music—no professional background required.
Mimboku
@mimboku_story is a premier NFT project in the Story ecosystem (similar to Bit Bears on @berachain).
This will be the first OG-level collectible series within the Story ecosystem, potentially qualifying for airdrops and incentives from other projects.
The mint date has not been announced yet, but it is expected shortly after the Story mainnet launch.
If you’re active in Discord discussions or create high-quality content, memes, or artwork, you still have a chance to secure a whitelist (WL) spot.
Summary
The Story ecosystem is emerging as one of the most exciting innovations in Web3. Whether it’s music, memes, AI, or trading cards, Story is building a programmable, highly liquid IP economy that puts creators firmly in control of their futures.
The Story mainnet is launching soon—stay tuned!
Join TechFlow official community to stay tuned
Telegram:https://t.me/TechFlowDaily
X (Twitter):https://x.com/TechFlowPost
X (Twitter) EN:https://x.com/BlockFlow_News
