FIO

What FIO does

FIO is a decentralized blockchain protocol operated by the FIO Foundation, a Cayman Islands non-profit foundation established in July 2020. The protocol's core function is to improve cryptocurrency usability by replacing complex public wallet addresses with human-readable FIO Handles (e.g., alice@domain) that function as NFTs owned by the user's private key, mapping to public addresses across any blockchain. Supporting features include FIO Domains (branded/customizable handles), FIO Request (end-to-end encrypted payment requests similar to Venmo for crypto), FIO Data (encrypted transaction metadata/memos), NFT Signature (on-chain provenance attestation), and FIO Bridge (decentralized cross-chain wrapping to Ethereum, Base, and Polygon via Block Producer oracles). The underlying infrastructure is FIO Chain, a public Delegated Proof of Stake blockchain built on the Antelope (formerly EOSIO) tech stack that produces blocks every 0.5 seconds and bundles 100 gas-free transactions with each FIO Handle.

The Foundation earns revenue from 5% of all FIO Chain transaction fees plus TPID (Transaction Facilitator ID) rewards, while Block Producers receive the majority (60%) of fees and 25% is redirected to the staking rewards pool. Integrators that embed FIO Handle resolution into their wallets or exchanges can earn up to 50% of user-paid fees plus 11% of staking rewards, creating a structural revenue-share incentive for distribution partners. Additional revenue streams include FIO Domain sales and renewals (with credit card / Stripe / WeChat / crypto payment options), a 50%-commission affiliate program, and subscription-based Wallet-as-a-Service revenue through the Metakeep partnership. The Foundation's 181.25M token reserves were exhausted in July 2023 after continuous minting since Mainnet launch.

FIO Protocol serves 70+ integrated ecosystem partners across wallets (MetaMask with 30M+ users, Trust Wallet with 130M+ users, Edge, Opera, Coinomi, Guarda, Mycelium), exchanges (Binance, Kraken, WhiteBIT, Changelly, ChangeNOW, MEXC, Gate.io), NFT marketplaces (OpenSea, Airnfts), payment gateways (CoinPayments), and gaming/Web3 studios via Metakeep. The Foundation employs 1-10 people and is governed by a Board of Directors elected by FIO Token holders, with operational execution led by a small team including a Head of Growth, Head of Marketing, and Head of Account Management.

Name

FIO

Legal name

FIO Protocol

Website

https://fio.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FIO is a decentralized blockchain protocol providing human-readable Web3 identities (FIO Handles), encrypted payment requests, and cross-chain token wrapping, operated by the Cayman Islands-based FIO Foundation and integrated into 70+ wallets and exchanges including MetaMask and Trust Wallet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Cayman

HQ country

Cayman Islands

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. FIO Chain Transaction Fees: FIO Chain collects fees for on-chain transactions including FIO Handle registration, FIO Domain registration/renewal, token transfers, wrapping/unwrapping, governance actions, and advanced operations. Fees are set by Block Producers (median of BP submissions) and intended to reflect market forces. Fees are distributed: 36% to top 42 BPs by vote share, 24% to 21 active BPs equally, 25% to Staking Rewards Pool, 10% to the transaction facilitator (TPID), and 5% to the FIO Foundation.
2. Integrator Rewards (TPID Fees): Wallets, exchanges, and application providers that integrate FIO Protocol earn a share of fees paid by their users. Currently, integrators receive 50% of transaction fees (boosted from standard 10%), plus 11% of staking rewards paid to end-users when unstaking FIO Tokens. Non-voting tokens in user accounts are auto-proxied to the application provider.
3. Wallet as a Service (Metakeep Partnership): FIO partnered with Metakeep to offer a white-label cloud web3 wallet solution to app developers. Metakeep charges per-user subscription-based pricing (introductory pricing available). FIO earns from the partnership through increased protocol adoption and integration revenue shares. 500x higher conversion rates vs. market leading wallet solutions cited. Supports multiple chains including Ethereum, Polygon, Binance, Solana, Wax, and FIO.
4. FIO Domain Sales and Renewals: FIO Domains are sold and renewed for FIO Tokens. Renewal fees have been reduced to allow registrations for 50+ years at minimal cost. FIO Domains can be purchased via the FIO App using credit card, crypto, WeChat, or Stripe. Domains can be wrapped to Polygon and listed on OpenSea for secondary market trading. The most expensive Web3 domain sold for $2,000,000.
5. Affiliate Program (FIO Domain Referrals): The FIO App runs an affiliate program where participants earn 50% of FIO Domain registration fees when referring users who purchase FIO Domains. This applies to both direct sales via the FIO App and integrations that co-brand the FIO App for their users.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

FIO Protocol is a decentralized Web3 usability layer that provides human-readable identifiers (FIO Handles), branded namespaces (FIO Domains), encrypted cross-chain payment requests (FIO Request), encrypted transaction metadata (FIO Data), NFT provenance attestations (NFT Signature), and cross-chain wrapping (FIO Bridge). The protocol runs on its own purpose-built FIO Chain (DPoS on Antelope/EOSIO), is operated by 21 Block Producers, and is consumed by end users via the FIO App and by integrators via SDK/API across more than 70 wallet, exchange, NFT, and payment-gateway partners.

Product overview

FIO Protocol is a decentralized blockchain usability layer built on FIO Chain, offering a suite of interconnected products and features. The core offering includes FIO Handles (human-readable blockchain identifiers) and FIO Domains (customizable branded domains that function as NFTs), which together replace complex cryptographic addresses with simple, memorable names. Supporting products include FIO Request (payment request functionality), FIO Data (encrypted metadata), and NFT Signature (blockchain asset verification). The ecosystem is powered by the FIO Token utility token and accessed through the FIO App (non-custodial wallet) or partner platforms. Cross-chain functionality is enabled through FIO Bridge and wrapped token products (wFIO on Ethereum/Base, Wrapped FIO Domains on Polygon). A Web3 Wallet partnership with Metakeep provides Wallet-as-a-Service infrastructure with enhanced cryptographic security.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FIO Chain FIO Chain is the Layer-1 blockchain that powers FIO Protocol. It is a fully decentralized public Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) network built on the Antelope/EOSIO stack, producing blocks every 0.5 seconds and supporting gas-free bundled transactions, encrypted FIO Request/Data, and the decentralized FIO Bridge.
• FIO Handle FIO Handle is a decentralized, customizable, censorship-resistant human-readable identifier (username@domain, e.g., bob@rulez) that replaces all public wallet addresses across blockchains. It is an NFT owned by the user's private key, maps to any public address on any blockchain and to social media handles, includes 100 bundled gas-free transactions, and never expires.
• FIO Domain FIO Domain is an NFT used to brand or customize FIO Handles (e.g., @opera, @edge, @trust). Domains can be public (anyone registers handles on them) or private (sole registrar). Domains can be wrapped to Polygon for trading on NFT marketplaces like OpenSea and are valid for one year with renewal.
• FIO Request FIO Request is a censorship-resistant, end-to-end encrypted payment request between two FIO Handles that supports any token on any blockchain (including Lightning invoices and fiat). The sender only confirms pre-populated payment details, eliminating wrong-address and wrong-network errors, and is gas-free for most users.
• FIO Data FIO Data is end-to-end encrypted blockchain transaction metadata, securely sent between two FIO Handles on FIO Chain and referencing any transaction on any blockchain. It functions as a check memo for crypto, only readable by sender and receiver, and matched/displayed via a unique transaction ID.
• NFT Signature NFT Signature is an on-chain attestation by the NFT owner on any blockchain confirming the NFT was created by the FIO Handle owner. It can include an NFT hash to ensure the asset was not altered and supports any NFT on any blockchain, enabling artists to establish a digital identity and publish provenance to FIO Chain.
• FIO Bridge FIO Bridge is a fully decentralized cross-chain bridge operated by a subset of FIO Chain Block Producers performing wraps and unwraps of FIO Domains and Tokens to Ethereum, Base, and Polygon. Active Block Producers act as Bridge Custodians managing oracles that monitor chains and execute cross-chain transactions.
• FIO Token FIO Token is the native utility token of FIO Chain with a 1 billion maximum supply. It powers DPoS consensus and governance (BP election, Foundation Board election), pays all on-chain fees including FIO Handle and Domain registrations, and can be staked to earn staking rewards (25% of daily fees redirected to the staking pool). A wrapped version (wFIO) is tradable on Uniswap on Ethereum and Base.
• FIO App FIO App is the web-based non-custodial wallet and single destination for all FIO functionality. Users can register free FIO Handles, purchase FIO Domains (via credit card/Stripe, crypto, WeChat, BitPay), stake/unstake tokens, wrap/unwrap assets, manage mappings, and use NFT Signatures without account setup or seed phrase. MetaMask Snap integration enables access without separate onboarding.
• Wrapped FIO (wFIO) on Base Wrapped FIO (wFIO) on Base is the ERC-20 representation of FIO Token on Base, enabling DeFi access and FIO-based features on the Base blockchain via the official Uniswap V3 pool (0x3a4d3fa1c7cd0c2be9b6ef8f04a41fb30a2b1b6d).
• Wallet-as-a-Service (Metakeep partnership) Wallet-as-a-Service is a white-label cloud web3 wallet solution offered in partnership with Metakeep, enabling any app to embed a non-custodial wallet with FIO Handle, FIO Request, and FIO Data support. It removes seed phrases, passwords, sign-ups, private key management, gas fees, and third-party custody, with FIPS 140-2 validated security. Supports Ethereum, Polygon, Binance, Solana, Wax, and FIO.
• FIO Improvement Proposal (FIP) Governance FIO Improvement Proposal (FIP) governance is the on-chain process FIO Protocol uses to evolve the protocol. It enables Block Producers, FIO Token holders, and ecosystem contributors to submit, discuss, and ratify protocol changes; FIPs are publicly accessible on the FIO GitHub repository.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trust Wallet serves 130M+ users with FIO integration via Trust Handles by FIO, enabling simplified crypto transactions across its user base
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration45 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MetaMaskcoreTechnology or IntegrationMetaMask, the most popular Web3 wallet with 30M+ users, integrates FIO Protocol via MetaMask Snap, enabling access to the FIO App without account setup or passwords. Full FIO feature support includes (Un)Wrap FIO Domain/Tokens, Register FIO Handle/Domain, Resolve FIO Handle, Send/Receive FIO Data/Request/Tokens, Sign NFTs, and Stake FIO Tokens. MetaMask represents FIO's highest-reach distribution channel.
• Trust WalletcoreTechnology or IntegrationTrust Wallet launched 'Trust Handles by FIO', integrating FIO Handle registration and resolution natively within the Trust Wallet settings for its 130M+ users. Users can map up to 200 public addresses to one Trust Handle. Trust Wallet automatically resolves handles via secure REST API during token sends. Supports Send/Receive FIO Tokens, Resolve FIO Handle, and Register FIO Handle.
• BinancecoreTechnology or IntegrationBinance is the world's largest crypto exchange and Binance Labs backed the initial creation of the FIO Protocol. Binance supports Trade FIO Tokens, Stake FIO Tokens, and Send/Receive FIO Tokens. Binance's backing provided early credibility and capital for FIO's development.
• KrakencoreTechnology or IntegrationKraken exchange supports trading of FIO Tokens, enabling FIO market access for Kraken's global user base.
• Edge WalletcoreTechnology or IntegrationEdge Wallet is one of the most popular mobile crypto wallets and a founding supporter of FIO. Paul Puey, Edge Wallet founder, serves on the FIO Foundation Board of Directors. Edge supports the full range of FIO features including Register FIO Domain/Handle, Send/Receive FIO Request/Data/Tokens, Trade FIO Tokens, Resolve FIO Handle, and Stake FIO Tokens.
• OperacoreTechnology or IntegrationOpera Crypto Browser integrates FIO Handle registration and automatic wallet address mapping during onboarding, making FIO functionality available to Opera's web browser user base as part of the crypto wallet setup flow. Supports Register FIO Handle, Resolve FIO Handle, and Send/Receive FIO Tokens.
• WhiteBITcoreTechnology or IntegrationWhiteBIT exchange supports Register FIO Handle, Resolve FIO Handle, and Send/Receive FIO Request. Has published user guides for creating FIO Handles on the exchange and depositing via FIO Request.
• MetakeepcoreTechnology or IntegrationFIO partnered with Metakeep to offer Wallet as a Service (WaaS), a cloud web3 wallet solution for any app. No seed phrases, passwords, sign-ups, private key management, gas fees, or third-party custody. FIPS 140-2 validated security. Supports multiple chains (Ethereum, Polygon, Binance, Solana, Wax, FIO) and claims 500x higher conversion rates than market-leading solutions. Subscription-based pricing model.
• Anchor Wallet (Greymass)coreTechnology or IntegrationAnchor Wallet by Greymass is both a comprehensive FIO wallet and an active Block Producer. Supports the most complete FIO feature set: Block Production, Stake FIO Tokens, Send/Receive FIO Tokens, (Un)Wrap FIO Domain/Tokens, Register FIO Domain/Handle, Resolve FIO Handle, and Sign NFTs.
• CoinPaymentscoreTechnology or IntegrationCoinPayments is a global crypto payment gateway for e-commerce. It integrates FIO Request as a payment option on checkout pages, pre-populating FIO-enabled wallets with the specific public address and amount to eliminate copy/paste errors and wrong-network risks. This is a key use case demonstrating FIO's B2B value proposition for payment processors.
• Bitcoin.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationBitcoin.com wallet supports Resolve FIO Handle. Dennis Jarvis, CEO of Bitcoin.com, has publicly welcomed FIO's efforts to establish an open-source protocol for registering human-readable addresses, stating FIO Protocol is 'one form of innovation that can increase everyday functionality to reduce user error in exchanges.'
• OpenSeacoreTechnology or IntegrationOpenSea is the largest NFT marketplace and hosts the official FIO Domains collection (wrapped FIO Domains on Polygon). FIO Domain NFTs can be traded on OpenSea's secondary market, providing liquidity for FIO Domain ownership.
• Magic SquareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMagic Square is an information hub and marketing partner for FIO Protocol, promoting FIO within the Magic Square app ecosystem at magic.store/app/fio-protocol.
• Tribe (Block Producer / Bridge Oracle)coreTechnology or IntegrationTribe is one of the Bridge Oracles operating the decentralized FIO Bridge that performs wraps and unwraps of FIO Domains and Tokens. As an active Block Producer, Tribe also contributes to FIO Chain's consensus and governance.
• EOS USA (Block Producer / Bridge Oracle)coreTechnology or IntegrationEOS USA is one of the Bridge Oracles operating the decentralized FIO Bridge. As an active Block Producer, EOS USA also participates in FIO Chain consensus and governance.
• Detroit Ledger Technologies (Block Producer / Bridge Oracle)coreTechnology or IntegrationDetroit Ledger Technologies is one of the Bridge Oracles operating the decentralized FIO Bridge and an active Block Producer for FIO Chain. Contributes to FIO Chain security and cross-chain bridge operations.
• Uniswap (Base and Ethereum)coreTechnology or IntegrationWrapped FIO (wFIO) is available for trading on Uniswap V3 on both Ethereum and Base chains. Official Base wFIO Uniswap V3 Pool: 0x3a4d3fa1c7cd0c2be9b6ef8f04a41fb30a2b1b6d. Official Ethereum wFIO Uniswap V3 Pool: 0x937d916a12de773043139e79e58da8a4b93623ed. This enables DeFi access and liquidity for FIO tokens.
• Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Content Authenticity Initiative is a community of media and tech companies, NGOs, academics, and others working to promote adoption of an open industry standard for content authenticity and provenance. FIO NFT Signature is referenced as supporting CAI's mission of digital content provenance verification.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ethereum Name Service (ENS): The dominant Web3 naming service on Ethereum. ENS is the most direct competitor to FIO Handles, providing human-readable identities (.eth) that resolve to wallet addresses; however, ENS is largely Ethereum-centric whereas FIO positions itself as chain-agnostic.
• Unstoppable Domains: Pay-once Web3 domain provider offering human-readable identities and NFT-based profiles. Comparable to FIO's domain model, with a focus on consumer branding and Web3 identity rather than cross-chain infrastructure.
• Bonfida (Solana Name Service): Provides the Solana Name Service (.sol) and on-chain identity tools. Like FIO, it bundles naming, profile data, and wallet resolution, but is anchored to the Solana ecosystem specifically.
• SPACE ID: Multi-chain naming service offering top-level domains across multiple blockchains (BNB, Arbitrum, etc.). Directly comparable to FIO's chain-agnostic naming layer, with similar cross-chain ambitions.

Emerging players

• Lens Protocol: Decentralized social graph protocol with on-chain identity profiles. Partial overlap with FIO's identity and NFT Signature features, focused specifically on the Web3 social use case.
• Handshake: Decentralized DNS-root naming protocol. Adjacent to FIO's naming ambitions at the infrastructure layer, though Handshake focuses on top-level domain ownership rather than wallet-to-identity resolution.
• Spruce ID: Decentralized identity provider offering DID-based credentials and authentication. Comparable to FIO's identity layer but oriented toward enterprise/KYC use cases and OAuth-style sign-in rather than crypto payments.
• Worldcoin: Identity protocol using proof-of-personhood via biometric verification. Tangentially comparable to FIO as a Web3 identity layer, but focused on human uniqueness rather than wallet address resolution.

Broad incumbents

• Polygon ID: Identity infrastructure from Polygon's broader ecosystem. Provides zero-knowledge identity primitives; relevant because FIO Domains are wrapped on Polygon and the two could compete or integrate for on-chain identity.
• WalletConnect: Dominant Web3 wallet-to-dapp connection protocol with massive existing wallet integration footprint. Operates in adjacent infrastructure to FIO and could either partner or compete as wallets consolidate UX layers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/joinFIO
• GitHubgithub.com/fioprotocol
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fioprotocol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fio-protocol

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FIO