Grayscale Report: Story Enters Crypto Top 20, $IP Sees Strongest Price Growth

On March 27, global digital asset management giant Grayscale released its latest "Q2 2025 Crypto Market Report," highlighting the rapid rise of Story, a blockchain project focused on AI and intellectual property (IP). For the first time, Story has entered the ranks of the top 20 global crypto assets, showcasing remarkable growth momentum.

What is Story?

Story is a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain platform designed to tokenize intellectual property (IP), providing a decentralized environment for creators, developers, and consumers. The platform enables secure management, trading, and monetization of IP assets. Its ecosystem spans multiple sectors, including Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Intellectual Property Finance (IPFi), AI tools, consumer applications, gaming, and even Sci-Fi franchises. By integrating these sectors, Story has created a vibrant and interconnected network that fosters innovation and collaboration.

Institutional Backing and Milestones

In August 2024, Story completed an $80 million funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Polychain Capital, achieving a valuation of $2.25 billion. This strong institutional backing underscores the confidence in Story's potential to redefine the IP and AI-driven blockchain landscape.

Story’s Role in the AI Era

AI continues to reshape industries, proprietary IP is increasingly being used to train AI models, often leading to copyright infringement claims and lawsuits, such as the high-profile New York Times v. OpenAI. Grayscale introduced,"By bringing IP on-chain, Story would enable companies to monetize usage of their IP in AI model training while allowing any individual to invest in, trade, and earn royalties from IP."

Notable Projects and Collaborations

Story has already made headlines by bringing songs from globally renowned artists like Justin Bieber and BTS onto the blockchain. In February, the platform launched its token $IP, further solidifying its position in the market. More recently, Aria, a Real World Asset (RWA) protocol on the Story blockchain, announced a collaboration with the Jonas Brothers. The partnership involves adding partial copyright ownership of the Jonas Brothers’ iconic holiday single, "Like It's Christmas," to Aria's catalog, marking another milestone in Story's expanding ecosystem.

IP Assets: A Growing Sector

According to Grayscale's report, IP assets have emerged as the fastest-growing category this quarter. The increasing focus on narrative-driven tokens reflects a broader market trend, as institutional investors begin to allocate a greater proportion of their portfolios to IP-based crypto assets. These assets are gradually joining the ranks of core holdings like BTC, ETH, and SOL, signaling a shift in institutional investment strategies.

As Story continues to innovate and expand its ecosystem, its rise to the top 20 marks a significant milestone in the convergence of blockchain, AI, and intellectual property. The platform's ability to address real-world challenges while creating new opportunities for monetization positions it as a key player in the evolving crypto landscape.