Brave launches version 1.0 of its privacy-focused Chrome competitor

Brave launched version 1.0 of its browser on Nov. 13. The company positions the browser as a privacy-focused alternative to Google Chrome that comes with a built-in ad blocker and various anti-tracking tools. The browser also features Brave Rewards, an opt-in program that allows users to earn Brave Attention Tokens ($BAT) in exchange for viewing online ads.

Why it matters:

• AsPhil Bonello andCoinShares alluded to in their recent works, dissident technology like Brave is on the rise and will play an important role in the near future. The continued misuse of user data from headline companies is helping accelerate the move towards privacy-focused technologies that prevent personal data duplication and dissemination.
• The Brave Rewards program will be an interesting experiment in consumer incentives. Freemium mobile games frequently use this model, but Brave now introduces a real financial reward, which could improve the experience for both users and advertisers. The program also represents Brave’s business model: users receive 70% of what advertisers spend on ads, while Brave collects the remaining 30%.