Grayscale, renowned as one of the major crypto-focused asset management firms, has taken a bold step in evolving the realm of blockchain and finance. The firm has introduced a unique investment trust for $IP – the native token associated with the Story network. The Story network primarily targets the development of programmable intellectual property (IP) on the blockchain.
Introduction of Grayscale Story Trust
The novel Grayscale Story Trust aims to offer a direct gateway to the $IP token for accredited investors as defined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The definition points to individuals exceeding specific financial benchmarks such as generating over $200,000 in annual income. The news of this launch has driven a nearly 8% price surge in the $IP token, reaching $6.34 before undergoing a retracement, according to data from CoinGecko. The last 30 days have seen the token’s value more than doubling, indicating its growing popularity among investors.
The Story network has so far facilitated over 1.8 million transactions related to intellectual property. It boasts more than 200,000 monthly users, according to the data-revealed by the network’s blockchain explorer and an official press release. The launch stands as an indicator of the escalating interest amongst institutions in tokenized intellectual property, as AI platforms, artists, and brands are pivoting towards more efficient on-chain mechanisms for managing licenses and royalties.
The Growing Global IP Market
Existing research reveals that the global IP market, inclusive of both digital rights and real-world data, is speculated to be valued at over $80 trillion. This, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2025 Global Innovation Index, showcases the immense potential that programmable IPs carry.
“The launch of the Grayscale Story Trust marks increasing recognition of the significance of intellectual property across all forms, which has become one of the most imperative assets of the AI era,” said SY Lee, the CEO and co-founder of the Story Foundation. “Investors can now access the foundational layer that facilitates programmable licensing and attribution across AI and creative applications via a Grayscale Trust through $IP.”
The Scope and Strategy of Grayscale
The recently launched Trust is now live and operates similarly to Grayscale’s other single-asset funds, solely holding the $IP token. This launch aligns perfectly with Grayscale’s overarching strategy which plans to offer single-asset investment vehicles closely tied to digital assets. The firm introduced this strategy with the launch of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), which transitioned into a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) last year. Following the same pattern, Grayscale introduced a range of investment products for other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Solana, and Chainlink.
As of 29th July, GBTC contained net assets worth $21.22 billion as per SoSoValue. Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust (ETHE), on the other hand, currently carries $4.25 billion in net assets.
The Regulatory Approvals and Future Plans
These innovative and ambitious moves follow closely after the SEC green-lighted Grayscale’s proposed conversion of its Digital Large Cap Fund into a spot ETF on the 1st of July. This specific fund offers investors diversified exposure to five significant digital assets – Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA).
Additionally, on 14th July, Grayscale disclosed that it has confidentially filed a draft registration statement with the SEC signaling a planned initial public offering (IPO). The exact number of shares it intends to offer or the anticipated price range has not been publicized yet.
In conclusion, Grayscale’s proactive steps in innovating new investment platforms validate the intensified interest in tokenized intellectual properties. Their ambitious endeavours may well signal the beginning of a new era of blockchain development and growth.
