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What is KOR (KOR)?

Quick Facts

  • Blockchain: Base (Coinbase's Ethereum Layer 2)
  • Token symbol: KOR
  • Category: Onchain IP clearinghouse and creative asset infrastructure
  • Backers: 1kx, Blockchain Capital, Sfermion, SevenX Ventures
  • Series A: $7.5 million raised at a $100 million valuation
  • Core functions: Verify, Route, Settle
  • Governance: Transitioning to token holders over time

Introduction

KOR Protocol is an onchain clearing layer for creative intellectual property (IP), deployed on Base. It provides infrastructure for registering rights, licensing creative assets, and settling payments between rights holders and buyers — all without traditional intermediaries.

The protocol targets creators, labels, publishers, brands, AI developers, and distributors who need a verifiable, automated system for managing creative works such as music, film, and digital art.

History & Background

KOR Protocol was built on Base, Coinbase's Ethereum Layer 2 network, to address the complex and fragmented nature of creative IP management. In 2026, the project raised a $7.5 million Series A at a $100 million valuation, led by 1kx and Blockchain Capital, alongside other investors including Sfermion and SevenX Ventures.

The funding was directed toward platform development, ecosystem growth, and a planned token launch, positioning KOR as a key piece of infrastructure for the AI era of content creation.

How KOR Works

KOR Protocol operates across three core engines:

  • Verify — Establishes provenance through an attestation graph covering authorship, sample clearance, AI provenance, and commercial state.
  • Route — Matches creative assets to buyers through an agent registry built to the ERC-8004 standard.
  • Settle — Executes payments atomically in USDC, with revenue splits declared at the point of registration rather than reconciled afterwards.

Each registered work can be assigned a Token-Bound Account (ERC-6551), giving it its own onchain identity with embedded license terms.

Tokenomics

$KOR is the protocol's settlement and access asset. It is used to pay protocol fees across registration, licensing, and settlement workflows. Token holders also gain access to protocol services and can participate in the agent registry.

Ecosystem incentives for rights holders and developers are funded through the token. Governance rights are designed to transfer to token holders progressively, with parameter control passing from the Foundation starting in late 2026.

Circulating Supply ? 2.29 billion KOR
Total supply ? 10.00 billion KOR
Max supply ? 10.00 billion KOR
Fixed supply (updated manually)

Ecosystem & Use Cases

KOR Protocol's infrastructure supports a wide range of creative industries. Music producers, filmmakers, and digital artists can register and license works directly onchain. Labels, MCNs, brands, and agencies can discover and license assets through the agent registry.

The protocol also caters to AI developers, supporting AI provenance attestation and commercial licensing scenarios for AI-generated or AI-assisted content — an increasingly critical use case as generative tools proliferate.

Team, Governance & Community

KOR Protocol is backed by a Foundation that currently oversees protocol parameters. Governance is planned to progressively transfer to $KOR token holders, giving the community control over key protocol decisions over time.

The project has built a community across Twitter, Telegram, and Discord under the handle @korprotocol.

Advantages

  • Automated settlement: Smart contracts distribute revenue instantly without manual reconciliation.
  • Broad asset coverage: Handles music, video, digital art, and AI-generated content simultaneously.
  • Base deployment: Leverages a fast, low-cost Ethereum L2 for affordable transactions.
  • Institutional backing: Supported by top-tier Web3 investors with proven track records.
  • AI-era ready: Built-in support for AI provenance and autonomous agent licensing.

Risks & Challenges

  • Early-stage adoption: Widespread creator and industry uptake is not yet guaranteed.
  • Regulatory complexity: Creative IP law varies significantly across jurisdictions.
  • Token launch uncertainty: Full tokenomics and distribution mechanics are still being finalized.
  • Competition: Other Web3 music and IP platforms also aim to capture this market.

Long-Term Vision

KOR Protocol aims to become the definitive onchain clearinghouse for creative IP in the AI era. By combining rights verification, automated routing, and instant settlement into a single programmable layer on Base, it seeks to replace fragmented legacy systems with a transparent, efficient, and globally accessible infrastructure for creative commerce.

Frequently Asked Questions

KOR Protocol is an onchain clearing layer for creative intellectual property deployed on Base. It enables rights holders to register, license, and settle payments for creative works like music, film, and digital art without intermediaries.

KOR Protocol is deployed on Base, Coinbase's Ethereum Layer 2 network. This allows for fast, low-cost transactions while inheriting Ethereum's security.

The three core functions are Verify (establishing provenance through attestation), Route (matching assets to buyers via an agent registry), and Settle (executing atomic payments in USDC with pre-declared revenue splits).

$KOR is used to pay protocol fees for registration, licensing, and settlement. It also grants access to protocol services and participation in the agent registry, with governance rights transferring to holders over time.

KOR Protocol raised a $7.5 million Series A at a $100 million valuation. Lead investors include 1kx and Blockchain Capital, alongside Sfermion, SevenX Ventures, and others.

KOR Protocol includes AI provenance attestation within its Verify engine, allowing AI-generated or AI-assisted works to be registered with traceable origins. It also supports commercial licensing scenarios specifically designed for the AI era.

Initially, the KOR Foundation controls protocol parameters. Governance rights are designed to progressively transfer to $KOR token holders, giving the community increasing control over protocol decisions over time.

Unlike NFT platforms or streaming services, KOR Protocol focuses on the entire post-production lifecycle of creative assets, covering registration, verification, routing to commercial buyers, and automated revenue settlement across multiple asset types simultaneously.