What Basic Attention Token does

Basic Attention Token (BAT) is a blockchain-based digital advertising ecosystem operated by Brave Software International SEZC, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, with an affiliated relationship to Brave Software, Inc. (Brave U.S.), the original developer of the Brave browser. Founded in 2017 with a team of 11–50 employees, the project is led by Brendan Eich (creator of JavaScript and co-founder of Mozilla/Firefox) as Founder & CEO and Brian Bondy as Founder & CTO. BAT serves three core constituencies: individual browser users who earn tokens for viewing privacy-respecting ads, content creators/publishers who receive user contributions, and advertisers who run campaigns against an engaged audience with anonymous measurement.

The core product is the BAT utility token, an ERC-20 asset on Ethereum (contract 0x0D8775F648430679A709E98d2b0Cb6250d2887EF) bridged to Solana as an SPL token via Wormhole v2. It is embedded in the Brave browser through Brave Rewards, Brave Ads, and Brave Wallet. The privacy architecture relies on the ANONIZE zero-knowledge-proof protocol and the Brave Ledger system, which keeps user data encrypted on-device and enables anonymous ad confirmation and attention scoring (Basic Attention Metrics). Total supply is capped at 1.5 billion tokens (1B sold in the 2017 ICO, 200M to the team pool, 300M to the User Growth Pool), with over 99% now in circulation. The browser code and ledger are open source.

The business model combines advertising and take-rate mechanics: advertisers pay for billable events under a confidential Brave Ads Rate Card (invoices net-30), users receive a User Share of ad revenue in BAT, and the company charges a ~5% fee on contributions routed to verified publishers. Additional monetization comes from Brave Premium subscriptions (Leo AI, Talk, VPN) payable in BAT, the Brave Merch Store, and partner e-commerce. Go-to-market is predominantly product-led through free Brave browser distribution and community-led growth via a verified creator network of nearly 2 million creators, ambassador programs, and referral incentives. BAT settlement runs through custodial partners (Uphold, Gemini, bitFlyer, ZebPay) and self-custody wallets, and the token is listed on major exchanges including Coinbase, Binance, and Crypto.com.

Name

Basic Attention Token

Legal name

Brave Software International SEZC

Website

https://basicattentiontoken.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Basic Attention Token is a blockchain-based digital advertising ecosystem built into the Brave browser, using an ERC-20/SPL utility token to pay users for viewing privacy-respecting ads, compensate creators, and give advertisers anonymous ad measurement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Advertising Platform

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Wallet Infrastructure (Tokenization, Wallet-as-a-Service) (FSAMAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Asset Custody & Wallet Infrastructure for Institutions (MPC/HSM, key mgmt, policy controls) (FSAPAIAE)

Keywords

• Digital advertising platform
• Blockchain advertising token
• Creator monetization platform
• Privacy-focused ad network
• Attention economy crypto

Headquarters

HQ city

Zagreb

HQ country

Croatia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Brave Ads Platform: Advertisers pay to display ads on the Brave Ads platform. Revenue is generated from billable events described in the Brave Ads Rate Card. Users earn a percentage (User Share) of ad revenue in BAT, with the platform retaining a portion. Company charges publishers a 5% fee on contributions assigned to them.
2. BAT Token Utility: BAT serves as the utility token for the platform. Users earn BAT for viewing ads and contribute BAT to creators. BAT is used for Brave Premium services (Leo AI, Talk, VPN), Brave Merch Store, and partner e-commerce platforms. Service fee of approximately 5% is collected on contributions.
3. User Growth Pool (UGP): Company-owned BAT pool (300 million originally allocated) used to incentivize new users to join the platform and Brave browser downloads. BAT from UGP is distributed to users for platform engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Basic Attention Token (BAT) is a utility token on Ethereum and Solana that powers a blockchain-based digital advertising ecosystem via the Brave browser. The Brave Ads platform lets advertisers run privacy-respecting campaigns while Brave Rewards allows users to earn BAT for viewing opt-in ads and contribute BAT to nearly 2 million verified creators on YouTube, X/Twitter, and Twitch.

Product overview

Basic Attention Token (BAT) operates as a blockchain-based digital advertising ecosystem with multiple interconnected products. The core offering consists of the BAT utility token (ERC20 on Ethereum, SPL on Solana) that powers the attention economy, integrated with the Brave browser through the Brave Rewards system. Brave Rewards allows users to earn BAT by viewing privacy-respecting ads (Brave Ads) and contribute BAT to nearly 2 million verified creators across YouTube, X/Twitter, and Twitch. Additional services include Brave Wallet (browser-native crypto wallet), Brave Premium (Leo AI, Talk, VPN paid with BAT), Brave Merch Store, and the in-development Boomerang Protocol for decentralized ad verification. The User Growth Pool incentivizes platform adoption, while cross-chain support extends utility across Ethereum, Solana, and wrapped token variants on other networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brave Rewards: Platform feature allowing Brave browser users to earn BAT for viewing ads and contribute BAT to verified creators.
• Brave Ads
• Brave Wallet

Products and services

• BAT Token Utility token (ERC20 on Ethereum, SPL on Solana) that serves as the medium of exchange between users, advertisers, and publishers/creators across the Brave advertising ecosystem.
• Brave Rewards Browser-integrated rewards system enabling Brave browser users to earn BAT for viewing privacy-respecting ads and contribute BAT to verified creators and publishers.
• Brave Ads Privacy-respecting advertising platform within the Brave browser that serves opt-in ads to users, enabling advertisers to run campaigns with anonymous accounting while compensating users and publishers with BAT.
• Brave Verified Creator Network Network of verified content creators (YouTube, X/Twitter, Twitch, websites) who can receive BAT contributions from Brave Rewards users for their content.
• Brave Wallet Browser-native cryptocurrency wallet built into the Brave browser that enables users to store, manage, and swap crypto assets without requiring a separate extension.
• Brave Merch Store E-commerce storefront where users can pay with BAT for Brave-branded merchandise and partner products.
• Brave Premium (Leo, Talk, VPN) Premium subscription services available within the Brave browser — Leo AI assistant, Talk communication service, and VPN — payable in BAT on a monthly basis.
• Solana NFT Collection — BAT x Adam Ape for Brave Inaugural Solana-based NFT collection (BAT x Adam Ape for Brave) that extends BAT utility into NFT marketplaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• First crypto application to reach over 1 million on-chain users
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and strategic.

• SolanacoreTechnology or IntegrationBrave integrated Solana blockchain as default for DApp support, providing Solana ecosystem access to Brave's 42 million+ MAUs and 1.3 million verified creators. BAT bridged onto Solana as SPL token.
• CoinbasemajorTechnology or IntegrationBAT listed for trading on Coinbase exchange platform. Part of crypto ecosystem integrations.
• BinancemajorTechnology or IntegrationBAT listed for trading on Binance exchange platform. Part of crypto ecosystem integrations.
• GeminicoreTechnology or IntegrationGemini provides custodial wallet services for Brave Rewards users and serves as exchange for BAT purchases. Company has used Gemini to purchase BAT for user payouts.
• UpholdcoreTechnology or IntegrationUphold provides custodial wallet services for Brave Rewards users and publishers. Used for BAT transactions and publisher payouts.
• bitFlyercoreTechnology or IntegrationbitFlyer provides custodial wallet services for Brave Rewards Desktop users in Japan. Exclusive option for Brave publishers in Japan.
• The GuardianmajorTechnology or IntegrationVerified Brave publisher receiving BAT contributions from users. Major news publisher in BAT ecosystem.
• Washington PostmajorTechnology or IntegrationVerified Brave publisher receiving BAT contributions from users. Major news publisher in BAT ecosystem.
• NPRmajorTechnology or IntegrationVerified Brave publisher receiving BAT contributions from users. Major public radio network in BAT ecosystem.
• Khan AcademymajorTechnology or IntegrationVerified Brave publisher receiving BAT contributions from users. Educational platform in BAT ecosystem.
• Brave Software, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrave Software, Inc. (Brave US) is the affiliate company that develops the Brave Browser. Strategic reorganization places primary Services responsibility with Brave Software International SEZC while Brave US continues developing unrelated Platform components and provides technical services.
• Boomerang Protocol (Research)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDecentralized, privacy-preserving incentive system currently in research and development. Future protocol aimed at introducing verifiable ad interactions while maintaining user privacy.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights1 record

Direct peers

• DuckDuckGo: DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that integrates with the BAT ecosystem. It competes for the same privacy-conscious user base and shares the same value proposition of user-first, tracking-resistant browsing.
• Brave Software: Brave Software develops the Brave browser that anchors BAT's distribution and rewards system. As an affiliated entity, it is the closest functional peer given the deep product, technology, and leadership integration with Basic Attention Token.
• AdEx: AdEx is a blockchain-based advertising platform using the ADX token for ad trading, transparent settlements, and fraud prevention. It is the most direct crypto-native competitor to Brave Ads in the decentralized ad-tech category.
• The Browser Company: Maker of the Arc browser, a privacy- and design-focused browser competing for the same user base as Brave. Arc pursues a differentiated UX-first approach but competes directly for privacy-conscious browser users that drive BAT distribution.
• MetaMask (Consensys): MetaMask is the leading self-custody crypto wallet and browser extension, directly competing with Brave Wallet for crypto storage, management, and DApp access inside the browser.

Broad incumbents

• Coinbase: Coinbase is a major exchange on which BAT is listed and a custodial wallet provider in the BAT ecosystem. It overlaps with BAT on consumer crypto utility and token distribution, though Coinbase operates a much broader product portfolio.
• Google (AdSense/Privacy Sandbox): Google operates the dominant digital ad network (AdSense, AdMob) and is developing the Privacy Sandbox to address cookie deprecation. Brave Ads competes for the same advertiser budgets against Google's enormous scale and targeting infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Origin Protocol: Origin Protocol powers decentralized e-commerce and creator monetization, and is integrated as a BAT utility partner. It addresses the same Web3 creator/payment economy from a different angle (decentralized storefronts and stablecoins).
• Theta Network: Theta is a decentralized video and entertainment delivery network with its own utility token that integrates with BAT for creator tipping. It overlaps with BAT on Web3 creator monetization and content-streaming use cases.
• Splinterlands: Splinterlands is a Web3 gaming platform that integrates BAT as an in-game utility token. It overlaps with BAT on gaming-driven token utility and creator/player reward distribution models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat1 record

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/attentiontoken

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Basic Attention Token