The Basic Attention Token (BAT) is an ERC20 Token based on the Ethereum Blockchain. It’s main goal is to provide a digital ad exchange to allow advertisers the ability to purchase ad space and user “attention” — the same product that Google and Facebook provide when selling ad space.

Brave wants all advertising revenues to be based on BAT.

Advertisers will pay for ads using BAT and users will be compensated for viewing ads in BAT.

Getting paid to look at ads? Say whaaat??

What makes BAT different?

BAT represents a fundamental rethinking of the way digital ads are delivered. The current model depends on third-party tracking (tracking browsing history, cookies, and search queries) and middlemen that connect advertisers with users.

BAT removes the need for third-party tracking and middlemen by matching and delivering ads locally from an inventory catalog of available ads and offers.

Delivering ads this way has many benefits. For example:

Privacy. Your browsing history can be kept private, as all data required for ad-matching never leaves your device.

Your browsing history can be kept private, as all data required for ad-matching never leaves your device. Improved ad matching. You choose the types of ads you want, thus making ad targeting a thing of the past.

How is Brave using BAT?

Removing ads from websites means you are removing a revenue stream for content creators who rely on advertising revenue to keep their content flowing. It’s always been a moral barrier for me when I use Brave or an ad blocking extension, because I enjoy supporting my favorite YouTube channels or Twitch streamers.

Brave takes a different approach to giving back to content creators.

In the Brave browser, content creators can register their websites and social media accounts. Users of Brave can load BAT tokens into their wallet (included in the Brave browser) and choose to give a set amount of BAT to their favorite content creators each month.

For example, I can choose to donate 10 BAT per month to be dispersed to the content creators I visit over the month. If I spend 60% of my browsing time watching Linus Tech Tips, then 60% of my 10 BAT will go to Linus. The other 40% will be divided up to the various other YouTubers and blogs I visit.

I don’t have to view any ads, yet I can still support my favorite content creators.