Basic Attention Token (BAT)

What is Basic Attention Token?

Basic Attention Token is a utility token used within the Brave browser ecosystem to reward users and advertisers. The project was launched in the year 2017 by founders Brendan Eich and Brian Bondy. Because the token does not operate on its own native blockchain with a dedicated consensus mechanism, it functions as a standard digital asset on its host network. The primary use case for the asset involves facilitating digital advertising transactions and distributing creator rewards across the platform. Within its current ecosystem context, the token operates alongside related digital assets such as ETH, AMP, and MATIC to support various decentralized applications and services.

How does Basic Attention Token work?

Basic Attention Token functions without a native consensus mechanism because it operates as a utility token on a host blockchain. Instead of relying on independent miners, the token utilizes the security protocols of its parent chain. This design allows the asset to process transfers using standard smart contracts rather than a standalone architecture.

The primary participants include digital advertisers, content creators, and everyday browser users interacting with the platform. These individuals do not act as traditional nodes, but rather as participants exchanging value within the browser environment. The system tracks engagement metrics to determine how assets are distributed among these participants.

When a transaction begins, the smart contract calculates the token amount based on verified user attention data. The transfer is broadcast to the underlying network where standard validators confirm the transaction validity. Once settlement is finalized on the ledger, tokens are deposited directly into the participant wallets.

Basic Attention Token use cases

Basic Attention Token tokenomics

The supply model for Basic Attention Token is defined by a strict upper limit on the total number of tokens that can ever exist. Specifically, the protocol features a maximum supply of 1500000000 tokens, which establishes a hard cap on issuance. At present, the circulating supply stands at 1495724656.95261 tokens, indicating that the vast majority of the total supply has already been distributed into the market. Because the circulating supply is extremely close to the maximum supply, the token experiences minimal inflationary pressure from new issuance. The absence of a native consensus mechanism means that no new tokens are minted as block rewards for miners or validators. This fixed supply structure governs how the asset is utilized across the digital advertising ecosystem.

Basic Attention Token price history & milestones

Basic Attention Token officially launched in the year 2017 to establish a new utility asset specifically designed for the digital advertising sector. During its extended market history, the token reached its all-time high price of $1.92 on 2021-11-28. Conversely, the digital asset recorded its all-time low price of $0.0553018099891882 on 2026-08-14. These historical price points reflect the broader market fluctuations and trading dynamics experienced by the token since its initial deployment. The asset continues to be traded and utilized within its specific browser ecosystem by various network participants. Currently, Basic Attention Token holds a market position at rank 168 among all tracked digital assets in the broader cryptocurrency landscape.