IP STRATEGY TRANSITIONS TO CUSTODED STAKING TO BOOST YIELDS AND ECO-SYSTEM GROWTH

• IP Strategy transitioned its validator operations to a custodied, long-term staking configuration to improve institutional-grade custody and projected blended staking yields.
• The company has staked 39.9 million $IP tokens, earning 913,569.39 $IP in cumulative rewards since September 2025, with a 99.98% uptime recorded in December.
• The dual revenue model of self-staking and third-party delegation commissions is expected to generate scalable, margin-accretive income tied to the expansion of the Story Network ecosystem.

IP Strategy transitioned its validator operations to a custodied, long-term staking configuration in December 2025, aligning with its institutional-grade custody and transparency goals. This upgrade is expected to improve staking yields over time, offering a more secure and scalable approach for both internal and external delegators. The shift also supports the company's broader strategy of enhancing operational resilience and transparency within the Story ecosystem.

Validator performance has remained strong, with 99.98% uptime in December and consistent staking rewards. The company earned 247,662.50 $IP tokens in December alone, contributing to cumulative rewards of 913,569.39 $IP tokens since the validator's launch in September 2025. These rewards, valued at approximately $4.68 million, highlight the financial potential of the dual revenue model, which includes both on-chain yield generation and staking commissions from third-party delegators.

The Story Network is also seeing growth in AI-native data infrastructure and real-world intellectual property tokenization, with projects like Poseidon and Aria demonstrating practical applications. These developments are expanding the addressable market for the $IP token and reinforcing the strategic relevance of IP Strategy as a regulated access point to the ecosystem.

Has the transition to custodied staking impacted validator performance metrics?

Validator performance has remained robust following the transition to custodied staking, with high uptime and consistent staking rewards. In December 2025, the validator achieved 99.98% uptime, with cumulative rewards from staking and commission fees contributing to a growing revenue stream. The company also reported a 99.8% average uptime since the validator's launch in September 2025.

The company staked 39.9 million $IP tokens, generating 913,569.39 $IP in cumulative rewards since September 18, 2025. These rewards are valued at $4.68 million and are expected to continue growing as the validator model scales. The dual revenue model—combining self-staking rewards and third-party commission income—is projected to generate up to 2.25 million $IP tokens annually at a 5.64% blended yield.

What are the implications for the Story ecosystem's growth and IP token value?

The Story ecosystem is expanding its reach into AI-native data infrastructure and real-world intellectual property tokenization. Projects like Poseidon and Aria highlight practical applications for programmable IP, rights-cleared data sourcing, and royalty-bearing digital assets. These developments are expected to increase the demand for $IP tokens and expand the network's addressable market.

IP Strategy's transition to a custodied staking model is expected to support long-term scalability and institutional adoption of the Story Network. The company's validator business, with gross margins projected to exceed 90%, is positioned to provide a stable and recurring income stream as the ecosystem matures. This growth is reinforcing the strategic relevance of IP Strategy as the only publicly listed vehicle offering regulated access to the Story Network ecosystem.