Terminology

When using Aria Protocol, you may come across a few key terms that are central to how the protocol works. This page provides a concise overview of those terms and what they mean in context.

Story and $IP

Story is the Layer 1 blockchain that Aria Protocol is built on. As a foundational network, all transactions and smart contract operations on Aria Protocol are executed directly on Story.

$IP is the native token of the Story blockchain. Within the Aria ecosystem, it’s primarily used to pay for gas fees, the transaction fees that keep the network secure and running efficiently.

To learn more about Story, visit Story’s official documentation.

IP RWA

IP RWA stands for *Intellectual Property Real World Asset* and denotes a category of token. IP RWA tokens are fungible tokens backed by a portfolio of real world IP asset rights, acquired by Aria Management Company (affiliated with Aria Protocol Labs Inc.). These are fungible and liquid crypto assets.

> Many IP RWA tokens may be launched on Aria Protocol, each backed by different IP rights assets.

Explore the IP RWA technical documentation.

stIPRWA

stIPRWA refers to Staked IP RWA token. When users stake an IP RWA token on Aria Protocol, they receive stIPRWA in return, for example staking $APL for $stAPL.

In the case of $APL, this token accrues royalties over time and must be staked to earn royalties.

There is no lock-up period enforced by the Protocol for stakers. Users can unstake anytime, though some campaigns may offer incentives for longer staking.

Learn more in the stIPRWA documentation.

$APL

$APL stands for the Aria Premiere Launch token and is the first IP RWA token launched on Aria Protocol. $APL tokens represent the Aria Premiere Launch catalog, a collection of partial income rights to 48 iconic songs acquired to date from the $10.95 million USDC raised using StakeStone’s LiquidityPad. Following the launch of remixable IP and the Aria Global Remix Contest featuring 3 songs from South Korean artist and actress NANA, the token will also be linked to any remixes of the 3 tracks released by a label.

Each $APL token is a fungible token backed by iconic music rights acquired by Aria Management Company (affiliated with Aria Protocol Labs Inc.). Holders, as owners of the $APL token, are entitled to receive a share of royalties generated by the underlying IP assets.

DEX

DEX stands for Decentralized Exchange. These platforms allow users to trade cryptocurrencies directly with one another without relying on a centralized intermediary. DEXs operate on blockchain infrastructure, offering enhanced privacy and allowing users to maintain custody of their assets and private keys.

CEX

CEX stands for Centralized Exchange. These are traditional trading platforms run by centralized entities that facilitate buying and selling of cryptocurrencies. CEXs typically offer greater liquidity, fiat onramps, and user-friendly experiences but require users to trust the exchange with their assets and personal data. Most CEXs also require KYC compliance.