Economic System

The SHIP token sits at the center of a closed-loop economic system designed to align protocol surface area, with tokenized assets fleet growth. Below is a summary diagram of the different web3 mechanisms related to the token:

The diagram above summarizes the SHIP economic system and the two-layer structure of the ecosystem. SHIP is the participation token for the ecosystem layer, while vessel-backed RWAs are issued through a separate investment layer. The model is designed to keep investment rights and ecosystem utility distinct, while allowing operational performance to indirectly reinforce the ecosystem through transparent token actions.

The system can be read in three flows. First, ecosystem participants acquire SHIP on the market and can increase their participation level through Wallet Score and staking, unlocking governance weight, incentives, and access. Second, the vessel fleet generates real-world revenue that funds RWA investor distributions under the investment layer framework. Third, a portion of operational performance can be reflected back into the ecosystem through market buybacks and, when applicable, token burns, creating recurring buy-side demand and potential supply reduction.

The section “Value Flywheel” below reframes these mechanics as a flywheel, showing how participation incentives, buybacks, and supply dynamics can reinforce each other over time, while vesting unlocks represent the primary counterforce on circulating supply growth.