Audius (AUDIO) is the native token of the Open Audio Protocol, a music-focused network that supports streaming and creator services through a mix of smart contracts and community-operated nodes. AUDIO is used for service staking, governance and selected feature access; holding it does not grant music copyright, guaranteed royalties or control of the platform.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | AUDIO |
| Price | $0.01503 |
| Market Cap | $22.01M |
| 24h Change | -0.5% |
| Circulating Supply | 1.465B AUDIO |
| All-Time High | $4.95 |
| Contract (Ethereum) | 0x18aa...b998 |
| Contract (Solana) | 9LzCMq...xrqM |
| Contract (Energi) | 0x2c25...1fb3 |
How It Works
Audius separates content storage from discovery. Content Nodes store and serve tracks, artwork and related metadata, while Discovery Nodes index protocol data so apps can find users, tracks and playlists. Smart contracts coordinate registered services, stake and delegation. The Audius app is one client; the protocol documentation also describes a broader service layer that other clients can use.
Tokenomics
AUDIO’s Ethereum token contract began with an initial supply of 1 billion tokens and is mintable. Official documentation describes ongoing issuance for stakers and delegators, so the initial amount is not a current supply cap. CoinGecko showed about 1.465 billion circulating and total AUDIO, with no maximum supply listed, in the market snapshot checked on 2026-10-21. Reward rates and protocol parameters can change; staking is not a fixed-return product.
Use Cases
AUDIO can be staked by registered service providers and delegated to node operators. Staking can support protocol services, provide governance weight and unlock selected creator features. Artists can use Audius to distribute music and build an audience, but AUDIO itself is not a license to a track and does not guarantee that a creator will earn revenue.
History
Audius’s protocol design has evolved around a combination of content services, discovery services and on-chain coordination. The project’s current docs explain how Content Nodes and Discovery Nodes divide those roles, while its token contracts handle staking, delegation, issuance and governance actions. This distinction matters: the token is one component of the music service, not the music files or the rights to them.
Common Misconceptions
AUDIO is not a stablecoin, a share in a music label or an automatic royalty claim. Staking rewards depend on protocol rules and participation, and a token holder does not automatically become a node operator. Audius also should not be described as a single blockchain storing every audio file: its documented services separate on-chain coordination from content storage and indexing.
Social Media Sentiment
A public r/audius thread from April 2022 shows users asking how AUDIO staking and delegation work; replies raise Ethereum transaction fees and the complexity of the process. This is a small, self-selected discussion from 2022, not a current poll or a representative measure of Audius users. direct discussion.
Last updated: 2026-10
Related Terms
See Also
- What Is Tokenomics?
- Why Do People Say Wallet for NFTs and Media?
- How NFTs Change Digital Game Ownership
- Trade through ChangeNOW — Compare rates, network fees and destination details before confirming.
Sources
- Audius protocol documentation — describes Content Nodes, Discovery Nodes and the services used by Audius clients.
- AUDIO token documentation — explains the token’s security, feature-access and governance roles, including ongoing issuance.
- Audius Ethereum contracts — documents the initial supply, minting capability, staking, delegation and governance contracts.
- CoinGecko AUDIO market profile — market cap, supply, price and all-time-high figures checked for the dated market snapshot.