What is Basic Attention Token (BAT)

Basic Attention Token (BAT) is the native cryptocurrency of the Brave browser ecosystem, designed to fundamentally reshape digital advertising by creating a privacy-respecting, user-controlled attention marketplace. BAT was created by Brendan Eich the inventor of JavaScript and co-founder of Mozilla Firefox and launched via a record-breaking 2017 ICO that raised $35 million in under 30 seconds.

THE PROBLEM BAT ADDRESSES

Traditional digital advertising is broken in multiple ways. Users suffer intrusive ads, privacy violations, and malware distributed through ad networks. Publishers receive only a fraction of ad revenue (the rest going to Google, Facebook, and intermediaries). Advertisers pay for clicks and impressions that may be fraudulent or reach the wrong audience.

HOW BAT AND BRAVE WORK TOGETHER

Brave is a privacy-focused web browser that by default blocks all third-party ads and trackers. Users can opt in to Brave Ads privacy-respecting advertisements served locally on-device, where ad matching happens without any data leaving the user's browser. Users who opt in earn BAT rewards directly to a built-in crypto wallet (Brave Wallet) for their attention. This creates a direct value exchange: users are compensated for their attention with real cryptocurrency.

BAT TOKEN UTILITY

Earning: Users earn BAT for opting into Brave Ads.
Tipping: Users can tip content creators and publishers BAT directly through the browser.
Creator Payments: Publishers verify their websites and YouTube channels with Brave to receive BAT from user tips and referrals.
Premium Features: BAT can unlock premium services within the Brave ecosystem.

BRAVE BROWSER GROWTH

Brave has grown to over 70 million monthly active users, making it one of the most widely used crypto-integrated consumer applications globally. The browser's speed advantage (3–6x faster than Chrome on mobile due to ad/tracker blocking) drives adoption beyond crypto-native users.

Terms in addition to the Basic Attention Token (BAT)

Blockchain

A blockchain is a subset of a distributed database. The Bitcoin inventors originally prototyped the system in 2008. This modern database is made up of separate blocks that are connected together in a chronological chain. Blockchains may be used to store a wide range of data types. It has mostly been utilized as a public ledger for bitcoin transactions to date. A peer-to-peer network comprised of independent nodes uses a consensus process to ensure the blockchain's security and legitimacy. Each node in the network keeps a public and immutable copy of the data.

2 Factor Authentication (2FA)

2 Factor Authentication is a security measure with two layers. It is used by the majority of cryptocurrency exchanges. To log in, you must provide not only a password, but also a code obtained, for example, from the Google authenticator.

Airdrop

An airdrop is a method of distributing coins. End users can typically obtain coins for free or in exchange for doing a small task, such as subscribing to a newsletter, sending a tweet, or inviting others via a personal affiliate link. Cryptocurrency airdrops — the act of depositing cryptocurrency into public crypto wallets — are utilized as a marketing, liquidity creation, and network bootstrapping technique for many different types of blockchain initiatives.

Altcoin

Altcoin - "alternative coin" - is any kind of digital currency other than Bitcoin. Since the launch of Bitcoin, the world's first digital currency, many altcoins (as well as supporting blockchains) have been created. Altcoin digital currencies share many similarities to Bitcoin, but consistently and have significant differences. There are about 20,000 altcoins, and this number is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Altcoins often develop Bitcoin features. Ethereum, currently the most widely used blockchain, supports digital contracts and separate applications where Bitcoin does not. Altcoins are also often created to cater to the needs of different users. The Litecoin blockchain, for example, can process payments quarterly for the duration of Bitcoin.

Cold Storage

Cold storage is the way to store cryptocurrency offline. The word refers to the use of offline wallets that are not connected to the internet. Cold storage is the most secure way to keep cryptocurrencies since an offline currency becomes less likely to be hacked and stolen. Paper wallets, printed renditions of private keys, and offline hardware and software wallets are all examples of cold storage.