Every Asteria entry follows the same six-stage path, from a line in a public catalogue to a named, tokenized registry record. The first stage is underway today; the rest are planned and will open only after independent verification, legal review and a published security audit.
The lifecycle at a glance#
The short animation below follows a single entry through the whole path. The table underneath is the same story in writing, with the status of each stage today.
| # | Stage | What happens | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalogue | An asteroid is selected and described: spectral class, size, albedo, rotation and orbit. | In progress preview data |
| 2 | Verify | Each entry is matched to its official designation and checked against public databases. | Planned roadmap phase 1 |
| 3 | Register | The verified entry receives its permanent registry record and registry ID. | Planned IDs assigned in preview |
| 4 | Tokenize | A unique ERC-721 token is minted to represent the registry entry. | Planned roadmap phases 2–3 |
| 5 | Name | The registry name is sealed at the naming ceremony and the certificate is issued. | Planned roadmap phase 3 |
| 6 | Marketplace | Primary sale, then transfers and trading between holders. | Planned roadmap phases 3–4 |
Stage by stage#
Catalogue
Asteria curates entries for character: unusual orbits, striking surfaces, rare classes. Each one is described by a compact data model — spectral class, diameter, geometric albedo, rotation period and the orbital elements
a,eandi. Everything else shown on a listing, from the orbit class to the orbital period and absolute magnitude, is derived from those values with standard formulas, so the catalogue stays internally consistent. The details are in Data & sources.Today the catalogue holds preview entries. They are realistic, but they are not yet linked to official designations.
Verify
Before any entry can be offered, it will be matched to a real, catalogued minor planet and cross-checked against public sources — the JPL Small-Body Database and the Minor Planet Center. Derived values are recomputed independently. Anything that cannot be confirmed is flagged as not measured rather than estimated quietly.
Register
A verified entry becomes a registry record: a permanent registry ID such as
ASR-0001, the official designation it refers to, its scientific data, the registry name and the meaning behind it. The registry ID never changes, even when the underlying science is refined.Tokenize
The registry record is represented by a unique token following the ERC-721 standard, with metadata that combines familiar marketplace fields and a namespaced
asteriablock holding the full record. The schema is documented in Token metadata. The chain, the contract design and the custody model are still being finalised and will be independently audited before launch.Name
At the naming ceremony, the registry name is sealed to its entry. Every listing arrives with a curated Asteria name, held to the Naming guidelines; holder-proposed names are being considered for a later phase but are not confirmed. An optional personal dedication is planned, and a digital certificate is issued once the name is recorded. The name is a registry name — never an official IAU name.
Marketplace
The primary sale opens first, tier by tier. Transfers, offers and trading between holders are planned for a later phase. Prices on this preview site are indicative, and final prices, currency and fees will be confirmed at launch, subject to legal review. See Marketplace overview.
What lives on-chain — and what does not#
A token is a pointer to a registry record, not a container for an asteroid. Some information belongs on a public ledger; most belongs in durable, verifiable files that the token references. The planned split looks like this:
| Information | Where it is planned to live | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Token ID and current holder | On-chain, in the ERC-721 contract | The core of a transferable, verifiable collectible. |
| Registry ID and registry name | On-chain name registry, mirrored in the metadata | So the name cannot be silently changed after the ceremony. |
| Royalty information | On-chain, via the ERC-2981 standard | Lets compatible marketplaces read the creator royalty. |
| Token metadata JSON | Off-chain, on content-addressed storage (IPFS) | Large, structured data; the content hash makes tampering detectable. |
| Certificate image and animation | Off-chain, on content-addressed storage (IPFS) | Media files are too large to store on-chain economically. |
| Scientific data (orbit, size, class) | Inside the metadata asteria block | Sourced from public databases and versioned when revised. |
| Waitlist email addresses | Off-chain only, never published | Personal data never belongs on a public ledger. |
What a token will give you — and what it will not#
Clear expectations make for a better collection. Here is the planned scope of an Asteria token at launch.
Included
- A unique token, held in a wallet you control.
- The registry entry it represents, with its permanent registry ID and registry name.
- A digital certificate showing the name, registry ID, spectral class, diameter and orbit class.
- The ability to transfer the token to another wallet, and later to trade it on the planned secondary market.
Not included
- Ownership of, or any property right in, the asteroid or any part of it.
- An official name. Only the IAU's WGSBN can approve those.
- Mining, landing, access or any other rights relating to the physical body.
- Any promise of value, income or resale.
Who does what#
| Party | Role |
|---|---|
| Asteria | Curates the catalogue, verifies entries, maintains the registry and runs the naming ceremony. |
| Public data sources | The JPL Small-Body Database and the Minor Planet Center provide orbits, designations and physical data. |
| Independent auditors | Will review the smart contracts before launch; the report is planned to be published in full. |
| Collectors | Hold tokens in their own wallets, take part in the naming ceremony and may transfer their tokens. |
| The IAU | Approves official names through the WGSBN. Asteria does not take part in, or influence, that process. |