IOST functions as a multichain infrastructure focused on tokenizing Real World Assets (RWA) and providing Web3 payment solutions. With seven years of blockchain development experience and more than 930 million transactions processed, the platform currently connects traditional finance to decentralized systems across various blockchain networks.

The project is directed by a team with ties to Princeton, Harvard, CMU, and MIT. Core members include Terry Wang, Arthur Tang, and Blake Jeong.

Wang’s background features time as a software engineer at Uber. He possesses a computer science degree from the University of Minnesota and a master’s in computer science from Princeton University.

Tang co-founded 2 unicorn startups and worked as a quantitative trader at Citadel. He holds a computer science degree from UIUC and a master’s in computer science from Harvard University.

Blake has served as the CEO of IOST from 2019. His past experience includes roles as a GP in a VC and at BCG.

IOST sets itself apart as a dedicated Layer 2 solution for BNB Chain, enhancing financial market efficiency via its novel Liquidity Engine. This system applies principal/yield separation to tokenized bonds by splitting them into P-Bonds and Y-Bonds, which maintains investment rights while boosting capital efficiency.

The platform handles tokenization on BNB Chain’s settlement layer but uses IOST’s Layer 2 optimizations for high-throughput processing. This allows institutions to tokenize various asset classes more quickly and at a lower cost than standard Layer 1 alternatives.

Its built-in payment system achieves sub-second latency through optimized L2 batching, combining BNB Chain’s security with the performance required for commercial use. As a specialized BNB Chain L2, IOST aims to connect institutional finance with blockchain technology, concentrating on the real-world application of tokenized assets within the financial sector.

IOST began in 2018 with a supply of 21B tokens, featuring an annual inflation rate of ~3% and a maximum limit of 90B.

In January 2025, the IOST community approved a plan to introduce a BSC L2, creating 21.32B new BEP-20 tokens on BNBChain. These assets are scheduled to be released gradually until March 2030.

As of March 2025, the total minted amount stands at 44B IOST, with 22B in circulation.

Designed for enterprise applications, IOST asserts it can manage the substantial traffic generated by major technology firms like Amazon, Google, and Facebook. The project’s success seems to rely heavily on partnerships.

You can purchase IOST on numerous trading platforms, including Binance, Upbit, Coincheck, Bithumb, OKX, Bitget, and BitPoint, among others.