▎ STRATO is an EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain and decentralized finance platform developed by BlockApps, Inc. It operates as a credit protocol built around USDST, a USD-denominated stablecoin. Users deposit collateral — including tokenized gold and silver backed one-to-one by physically vaulted reserves, tokenized equities, and major cryptocurrencies — into Collateralized Debt Positions to mint USDST, then deploy that liquidity across lending markets, an automated market maker exchange, savings vaults, and yield strategies. The STRATO token is the network's coordination layer, used for governance, validator staking, borrower fee discounts, gas, and protocol fee capture.