In the fast-paced world of blockchain, where intellectual property (IP) is becoming the next big frontier, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko dropped a mic moment on X today. He simply stated, "Metaplex is the highest revenue IP protocol," in response to a post praising Camp Network as the new king of IP-focused Layer-1 blockchains. If you're scratching your head wondering what this means for meme tokens and the broader crypto scene, let's break it down step by step.

First off, what's all this talk about IP protocols? Intellectual property, or IP, refers to creations like art, music, inventions, or even digital assets that people own and can monetize. In blockchain terms, IP protocols are platforms that let creators register, license, and earn from their work in a decentralized way. Think of it as putting your meme art or viral video on the chain so you can control who uses it and get paid automatically.

The conversation started with Simon Dedic, founder of Moonrock Capital, who tweeted, "No hate on Story Protocol, but not gonna lie @campnetworkxyz might’ve just taken the crown as the leading L1 for IP." Story Protocol is a Layer-1 blockchain built specifically for tokenizing IP—anything from AI-generated content to Hollywood scripts. They've raised over $140 million in funding and aim to revolutionize how creators manage rights in the AI era, as detailed in their overview on Crypto.com. Camp Network, on the other hand, is another up-and-comer focused on AI and IP infrastructure, securing $30 million to build an autonomous Layer-1 where data and content can be licensed seamlessly for AI training. Check out their funding announcement for more.

But Anatoly, often known as @aeyakovenko on X, wasn't having it. His reply points to Metaplex, a protocol on Solana that's been dominating the NFT space since 2021. Metaplex isn't a standalone Layer-1 like Story or Camp; it's a set of tools for creating, launching, and managing digital assets on Solana. And when it comes to revenue? It's crushing it. According to Metaplex's own June 2025 round-up, they generated $13.7 million in the first half of the year alone, mostly from new asset creations. DefiLlama tracks their annualized revenue at around $16 million, far outpacing the early-stage funding hype of competitors who are still building out their ecosystems.

Why does this matter for meme tokens? Solana's low fees and high speed have made it a hotspot for meme coin launches, and Metaplex plays a key role in that. Many meme projects use Metaplex to mint NFTs tied to their tokens, turning simple jokes into ownable IP. Imagine your favorite cat meme as an NFT that generates royalties every time it's remixed or sold—that's the power here. As IP protocols evolve, they could supercharge meme culture by making it easier to protect and profit from viral content, preventing big AI firms from scraping it without paying up.

The community lit up in the replies, with Solana degens shilling their favorite meme tokens and side projects. One user hyped "$FORK will be the highest side chain in revenue," while another introduced "$pudin," claiming it's the "first time we see Russian president on Solana."

Even $abble got a shoutout with a cheeky image, asking Anatoly to "study."

This playful banter shows how intertwined IP discussions are with the meme token world on Solana—it's not just tech; it's culture.

Looking ahead, while Story and Camp bring fresh ideas to the table, Metaplex's proven track record on Solana gives it a real edge. For blockchain practitioners and meme enthusiasts alike, keeping an eye on these developments could unlock new ways to create, share, and monetize. If you're building on Solana, Metaplex might just be your go-to for turning IP into revenue. What do you think—will newcomers dethrone it, or is Solana's ecosystem too strong? Dive into the thread and join the conversation!