BAT (Basic Attention Token) is a digital asset created by Brendan Eich, founder of Javascript and co-founder of Mozilla and Firefox browsers, for circulation between advertisers and users, and is used to solve advertisements in browsers Presentation and user motivation problems.

The project is based on the Brave browser to carry out decentralized digital advertising business, through the use of zero-knowledge proof to protect user privacy, and at the same time, it can reward users for their attention. There is a unique concept in the Brave browser - attention. Brave uses the ANONIZE algorithm, which can count user behaviors, such as which links are clicked the most, or which website stays the longest. These behaviors can be quantified using the unit of "attention". The specific method is to embed the blockchain ledger system in the browser, and the token circulating in this system is BAT (Attention Token). Simply put, the Brave browser that integrates BAT tokens will allow merchants, website owners and users to maintain a good positive feedback relationship. Usually, when Brave users watch advertisements or high-quality content, they will be rewarded with BAT tokens for spending their attention; while website owners successfully attract users' attention with advertisements and high-quality content, the system will also reward them. The BAT tokens obtained by users and website owners come from the advertising expenses of merchants.

Project Application

BAT's solution is based on the decentralization of blockchain technology to achieve a fair and transparent digital advertising exchange. Its first component is the Brave browser, a fast, open-source, privacy-focused browser. Brave's own plug-in can block all third-party advertisements and trackers. Users can enable the "Brave Rewards" function, thereby BAT rewards can be obtained by actively browsing advertisements. BAT builds a ledger system that can quantify user attention to distribute rewards. In the Brave Rewards mode, websites that provide content to users can get rewards (requires registration in BAT), users can also choose to reward the website, reward content authors, and also get rewards by browsing advertisements. While protecting user privacy, Brave compensates users (actively browsing advertisements) according to their attention, connects advertising merchants, advertising publishers (website content publishers) and users, eliminates the high cost of middlemen in the existing advertising system, and provides The original efficiency and benefits of the three parties of the advertising network.

1. Brave browser
Brave is a fast, open source, and privacy-conscious browser. Its default loaded plug-ins can block ads, trackers, and malware, and embedded A ledger system that can anonymously quantify user attention and accurately reward content providers.

Figure 1 Brave browser plugin

As shown in Figure 1, the Brave browser installs a plug-in that blocks ads and trackers by default, and the user's private data will no longer be obtained by the website. Web browsing will also become faster as users no longer need to download tons of ads and trackers. Brave claims that its mobile client will load new sites two to eight times faster than Chrome and Safari, and its desktop client will be two times faster than Chrome.

2. Basic Attention Token (BAT)
Attention Token (BAT) is a currency unit for communication between advertisers, content providers and users. Through the token of the BAT platform, it can realize Various forms of advertising promotion and services based on user attention. Tokens are allocated and settled by a quantified user attention system. The user's energy to watch the advertisement and the content is the attention spent. In this case, the attention represents the time and inner activities that are concentrated on the advertisement. BAT is a token based on ERC20. Through the decentralized Ethereum blockchain platform, it can realize free circulation on a global scale and can be exchanged with other currencies in major exchanges.

3. Brave + BAT = efficient digital advertising market
Brave browser can know where users spend their time, can perfectly calculate and use BAT to reward content providers. This creates a transparent and efficient blockchain ad delivery platform. Blockchain eliminates middlemen and reduces fraud, and content providers can earn more revenue. While avoiding malicious advertisements, users can receive fewer and more accurate advertisements and receive rewards, and advertisers can also spend money more efficiently without paying for fake traffic.

Figure 2 BAT advertising system

Figure 2 shows how BAT reconstructs the relationship between advertisers, content providers and users and directly protects their interests. The Brave browser monitors the user's attention anonymously. The user's attention is counted only when the user tries to browse advertisements and content in the active tab of the browser. The attention value used to watch the advertisement will be counted according to the duration and the amount of pixels. In subsequent system design, a model for each behavior is defined. The advertising system uses a local machine learning algorithm, and the advertisements will be anonymously matched with the user's interests, and irrelevant advertisements will be greatly reduced.

Users are rewarded with BAT tokens when they watch ads. BAT can be used to pay for premium content and services within the Brave platform. Content vendors will get most of the total advertising revenue, and users can also donate some tokens to support content vendors, so content vendors can get more revenue.

4. Privacy protection
User privacy is protected by the ANONIZE algorithm, and through open source code and the use of secure encryption to reduce advertising fraud and achieve better system integrity and transparency.

Related links:
https://www.dprating.com/rating/report/98
https://basicattentiontoken.org/