Big Story Protocol IP token drop moved to August 2026

Story Protocol (IP) is delaying its first major token unlock until August 2026 in an effort to buy time for new partnerships amid a sharp decline in the token’s price over recent months.

Story Protocol announced it will postpone the first large unlock of its IP token by six months, moving the release of tokens allocated to the team and investors to August 2026.

The delay could help reduce short-term supply overhang and support the IP price, which has fallen by around 90% from its all-time high of $13.7 reached in October 2025 to its current level of $1.23.

In an interview with CoinDesk, project founder SY Lee pointed to Worldcoin’s 2024 decision to extend token lockups for investors and the team from three to five years. That move reduced short-term circulating supply, was framed as an extension of the development timeline, and was followed by double-digit price gains within hours of the announcement. Story is following a similar logic, although the IP token has not yet reacted to the news.