The DATA Foundation

The DATA Foundation (formerly Story Protocol) is the steward of the DATA Network and Trace. Our role is to advance the development, integrity, and long-term health of the open infrastructure that lets AI data be sourced, proven, and processed, with a verifiable receipt for every record.

AI is poised to reshape how the world creates, discovers, and progresses. The DATA Foundation exists to make sure the data behind that progress can be sourced openly, proven, and trusted.

The DATA Foundation (formerly Story Protocol) is a Layer 1 blockchain and decentralized data infrastructure protocol focused on powering the AI data economy.

Originally launched to support the tokenization and programmable licensing of intellectual property (IP), the project rebranded in June 2026, shifting its primary focus toward verifiable, licensed AI training data.

The network enables organizations to register, license, audit, and monetize datasets on-chain while providing transparent provenance, compliance records, and payment infrastructure for contributors. Its native token, IP, was rebranded to DATA as part of the transition.

History & Overview
Originally founded in 2022, The Data Foundation (formerly, Story Protocol) is headed by Andrea Muttoni [9] with an aim to address challenges in intellectual property (IP) management and monetization by utilizing blockchain technology. By incorporating attribution, usage terms, and royalty agreements on-chain, Data Foundation seeks to create a decentralized framework that supports creators in protecting their work, enabling collaboration, and facilitating revenue generation.

The platform includes the Story Network, a layer 1 blockchain designed for IP data structures; the Proof-of-Creativity Protocol, which supports IP registration and programmable metadata; and the Programmable IP License, linking blockchain-based IP management with legal frameworks. Story aims to modernize IP systems to align with the demands of a digital and AI-driven landscape.

Rebrand to The DATA Foundation (2026)
In June 2026, Story Protocol announced a major strategic rebrand, renaming itself The DATA Foundation, its blockchain to DATA Network, and its native token from IP to DATA.

The project said the transition reflected a shift in focus from becoming a general-purpose intellectual property (IP) protocol to building infrastructure for the rapidly growing AI training data market.

According to the Foundation, the decision followed lessons learned from its initial efforts to support programmable licensing for entertainment, gaming, creator tools, and digital intellectual property. While projects such as Magma and Aria demonstrated successful adoption, the team concluded that many traditional IP owners preferred retaining centralized control over licensing, limiting broader adoption of permissionless IP infrastructure.

The Foundation identified AI training data as the strongest product-market fit after incubating Poseidon, an AI data processing network that provides licensed, verifiable datasets for AI developers. It stated that major AI companies increasingly require data that can demonstrate provenance, contributor consent, licensing rights, and quality, creating demand for blockchain-based audit and licensing infrastructure.

As part of the rebrand, DATA introduced Trace, an on-chain audit platform for verifying dataset provenance and licensing history, alongside Poseidon as its decentralized data processing layer.

The Foundation also announced partnerships with several AI data companies, including Kled, an opt-in human data marketplace that began registering more than 1.5 billion data assets on DATA Network.

The project stated that token holders would receive a 1:1 migration from IP to DATA, with no immediate action required, while existing network infrastructure, validators, and developer integrations would continue operating without interruption.