Protocol Rebrands to DATA Foundation, Focuses on AI Data

A blockchain startup formerly known as Story Protocol has rebranded as the DATA Foundation, announcing a complete strategic pivot from a general intellectual property network to building infrastructure for verified artificial intelligence training data. The change, announced on Thursday, June 25, 2026, includes renaming its Story Network to DATA Network and converting its native IP token to a new DATA token through a one-to-one migration that requires no immediate action from holders.

The foundation’s leadership stated the shift was driven by a recognition that demand for high-quality, licensed AI training data has far outpaced its original focus on entertainment and gaming intellectual property. According to CEO Andrea Muttoni, companies behind valuable music, games, and brands were reluctant to adopt open, permissionless licensing for their core assets, preferring to maintain tight control. By contrast, an incubated data project called Poseidon demonstrated stronger market traction, raising a $15 million seed round led by venture firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) in July 2025. The same firm previously led funding rounds for Story Protocol totaling approximately $140 million.