What is Basic Attention Token (BAT)?
- Author
- CRYPTO PORT Editorial
- Published
- Updated
- Reading time
- 4 min
In short
BAT is the token used inside Brave, a web browser that blocks ads by default. Users who opt in to seeing ads receive BAT in return. The company behind it was co-founded by Brendan Eich, known as the creator of JavaScript.
Key points
- The token used inside Brave, a browser with built-in ad blocking
- Users who opt in to viewing ads receive a share of BAT in return
- Received BAT can be used to tip participating creators
- Issued as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum
Definition
An ERC-20 token used within Brave's advertising system to reward users and tip creators.
Web advertising funds free content in exchange for tracking what people read. The problem BAT's project named was that users get nothing back while their data is collected. Its proposed answer was to block tracking and let users choose whether to see ads at all.
Brave blocks ads and trackers by default. Users who turn ads on in settings then see notification-style ads and receive BAT for viewing them. Ad selection is described as happening on the device, with browsing history not sent to a server.
Received BAT can be used to tip sites and creators registered with Brave, and in some cases handled on supporting exchanges. What is available depends on jurisdiction and verification status, and handling has been restricted in some regions, including periods in Japan.
The token itself is an ordinary ERC-20 on Ethereum with no special technical function. What characterises this asset is that it is used inside a real, shipping product, so activity tracks Brave's user numbers and advertiser spending.
Watch out for
- · Reward terms and eligible regions have changed at the operator's discretion and are not fixed
- · Withdrawing received BAT requires identity verification and is unavailable in some regions
- · Demand depends on the advertising business, so it tracks browser usage and advertiser spending
Frequently asked questions
Do you earn BAT just by using Brave?
Not by default. You become eligible only after enabling ads in settings, and the terms and eligible regions vary by the operator's policy.