Basic Attention (BAT)
Unlock Schedule
Basic Attention (BAT) Token Unlock & Vesting Schedule
The unlock chart above provides a clear visual overview of the Basic Attention (BAT) token release schedule, showing when and how tokens enter circulation across investor, team, treasury, and community allocations. Understanding these tokenomics dynamics is critical for evaluating potential supply pressure, inflation impact, and market liquidity over time — key factors that can influence BAT price performance.
Each color segment in the chart corresponds to a specific allocation group described in the Allocations section below. Underlying assumptions and data models used to reconstruct this schedule are explained in detail under Assumptions, while broader utility insights and token use cases are covered in Tokenomics & Utility.
Tokenomics & Utility
Supply and distribution
Basic Attention tokenomics are straightforward and capped. The total BAT supply is fixed at 1.5 billion tokens. At launch, 1 billion BAT was sold in the ICO; 300 million BAT was set aside in a User Growth Pool (UGP) to bootstrap adoption; and 200 million BAT went to the development team pool. No additional BAT can be minted under the original token contract. (basicattentiontoken.org)
Economic loop: advertisers, users, and creators
- Advertisers fund ad campaigns in BAT or fiat. For fiat campaigns, Brave purchases BAT to pay the user share.
- Users who opt in to Brave Ads receive 70% of the ad revenue share in BAT and can tip their favorite sites and channels or use tokens on‑chain.
- Creators register as verified to receive tips and recurring contributions. Settlement happens on a scheduled cadence. (brave.com)
This loop creates ongoing utility for the BAT token inside the browser and across Web3. Because supply is fixed, factors like adoption, ad demand, and creator activity tend to be the core drivers discussed when people talk about BAT price over time.
Wallet options and payout models
BAT integrates with Brave Wallet (browser‑native, self‑custody) and supports custodial links in selected regions. With the Solana self‑custody rollout, payouts can go directly to a user‑owned Solana address, removing many hurdles to using earned BAT on‑chain. (support.brave.com)
Assumptions
- UGP emissions are modeled as a single linear monthly schedule from 2017-12-06 through 2025-10-15 totaling 300,000,000 BAT.
Actual UGP grants and referral/creator distributions were event-based and variable; official posts mark the start (Dec 2017) and a major program wind-down (Nov 2020) but do not provide a complete month-by-month ledger. A linear schedule provides an equivalent cumulative release for visualization while matching the total allocation.
- Development/Company Pool is treated as fully unlocked at TGE.
Official sale overview states tokens are transferable as soon as they are in possession; no primary source found for a time-locked vesting schedule specific to the 200M development pool.
- BAT supply is fixed at 1.5B tokens with no ongoing PoW/PoS or inflationary issuance.
BAT is an ERC-20 with max total supply defined in the token contract and official FAQs; distribution mechanisms are limited to the initial sale, UGP grants, and company pool.
- Minor accidental burns (e.g., tokens sent to the contract address) are not modeled.
These events do not constitute an issuance or scheduled release mechanism and are not part of the project’s tokenomics; they do not affect the modeled allocation totals.
- 1. https://basicattentiontoken.org/FAQ/
- 2. https://basicattentiontoken.org/bat-sale-overview-and-how-to-participate/
- 3. https://basicattentiontoken.org/bat-sale-finishes-quickly/
- 4. https://brave.com/blog/brave-grants-300000-promotional-tokens-to-browser-users/
- 5. https://brave.com/blog/million-dollars-paid-out/
- 6. https://brave.com/blog/referral-program/
- 7. https://brave.com/blog/referral-program-update/
- 8. https://basicattentiontoken.org/user-terms-of-service/
- 9. https://etherscan.io/token/0x0d8775f648430679a709e98d2b0cb6250d2887ef
- 10. https://brave.com/blog/bat-roadmap-3-0/
Allocations
Description
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Basic Attention Token is a cryptocurrency that uses blockchain to create a transparent and decentralized digital advertising system. It rewards users for their attention and protects their privacy by not tracking personal data. It integrates with the Brave browser to manage ad budgets and user rewards.
| Sector: | SocialFi |
| Blockchain: | Ethereum |