What is Basic Attention Token (BAT)?

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

BAT was created to address significant inefficiencies in the digital advertising industry. In the traditional model, users' attention is monetized without their consent or fair compensation, while advertisers face issues with fraud and opaque middlemen. BAT introduces a user-first model where individuals can opt-in to view privacy-respecting ads and earn BAT tokens for their attention. This creates a more equitable system that rewards users, provides advertisers with better-targeted and verifiable engagement, and supports content creators directly.

2. Technology & Architecture

BAT is an ERC-20 token built on the Ethereum blockchain, ensuring security and interoperability. Its primary utility is realized within the Brave browser ecosystem. Brave blocks intrusive ads and trackers by default but offers a built-in platform where users can voluntarily view ads to earn BAT. This integration creates a closed-loop economy where the token facilitates seamless microtransactions between advertisers, users, and publishers, all while leveraging blockchain for transparency.

3. Tokenomics & Governance

The token has a fixed, hard-capped supply of 1.5 billion BAT, with over 99.7% already in circulation as of February 2026. The supply was initially distributed through a 2017 token sale, with a portion reserved for user growth and development. BAT functions primarily as a utility token within its ecosystem: it is the medium for rewarding users, the currency advertisers use to purchase attention, and a means for tipping creators. Governance is largely driven by Brave Software, which develops the core platform and protocols.

Conclusion

Fundamentally, Basic Attention Token is a purpose-driven utility token that powers a privacy-centric alternative to the traditional digital ad economy, directly linking user attention to tangible rewards. As the ecosystem evolves, how will its fixed-supply model balance growing demand with sustainable utility?