Brave browser has started paying users BAT to watch ads

Brave, a cryptocurrency-powered browser, has recently entered phase two of its Brave Ads Developer Channel Preview. This will allow users to voluntarily view ads and earn 70% of the revenues in the form of BAT (Basic Attention Token).

In the first phase of its ads preview, Brave found that users were engaging with the ads they were shown. This new phase will reward them for their attention. Brave announced:

“Phase two provides token rewards to users for their attention, and introduces Brave’s anonymous-but-accountable campaign reporting for brands….With today’s Developer Channel update [version 0.63.4], testers on OS X, Linux and Windows x64 [with 32-bit/x86 to follow shortly] will start to see the ads they are viewing being counted [”ad notifications received”] on the Brave Rewards Settings Page [accessible through brave://rewards]”

Reactions from the community

Redditor Noastrademons said:

“The whole point of BAT – and the reason users get some – is to correctly price users’ attention. If you don’t think it’s worth it, opt out of viewing ads. That’ll reduce the supply of ad inventory available, which means advertisers need to bid more to get their ads shown, which raises the demand for BAT, which raises the price, which makes it more worthwhile to turn on ads.”

Another Redditor JankFrank said:

“Well first of all we’re not exactly sure how much we’ll make when it’s all said and done. More importantly, no one who is opting into ads is doing so to gain a significant revenue stream. Eventually, with BAT earned you should be able purchase stuff like access to articles, on-demand entertainment, VPN, gift cards, etc. Ultimately many of us will opt-in as a way to fund sites/creators we like.”