What the heck is IP?

Excuse me, but could you clarify something for me? I've heard the term 'IP' being used frequently in the context of cryptocurrency and finance, but I'm not entirely sure what it stands for. Is it something related to the Internet? Or is it a specific type of technology or protocol used in this field? I'd appreciate it if you could break it down for me in a way that's easy to understand. Thanks in advance for your help!