Privacy focussed web browser Brave is introducing a new feature to allow the tipping of individual Reddit and Twitter users. The functionality will be available from directly within the browser window and enable micro-payments using its native BAT token.
Brave New World
Brave browser has been making waves online with innovative features to enhance online privacy and security. It doesn’t store browsing data, blocks malware and phishing by default, and prevents identification and site-to-site tracking.
One key browser feature is its ad-blocker, and the company actively campaigns against use of personal data for targeted advertising. CEO, Brendan Eich has petitioned the US Senate about the benefits of the EU’s GDPR, and even filed a complaint against Google in the UK and Ireland.
Fortune Favors the Brave
All very commendable, but many sites rely on ad revenue to survive. Well don’t worry, Brave has you covered there with a radical new revenue model. Brave users can optionally activate Brave Rewards, which uses a native cryptocurrency called Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) [coin_price coin=basic-attention-token].
Users choose a monthly contribution amount, which can automatically be distributed among the sites visited most often. Alternatively, users may hold the BAT in a browser-integrated wallet, and tip sites directly, or set up recurring monthly payments, a la Patreon.
Mainstream media giants such as the Washington Post and the Guardian have registered with Brave, and BAT payments are also popular with YouTubers and Twitch channels, allowing direct payments from their fans. Brave claims over 10,000 publishers and content creators have already signed up.
The new feature, scheduled for Q4 2018 release, will extend this functionality, enabling direct tipping of individual social media users. If it is a success, then we should expect to see similar features spread across other social media platforms.
The benefit of Brave is that BAT cryptocurrency payment functionality is directly built-in to the browser. The anonymous ledger ensures that user payments are neither identifiable nor traceable, even by Brave servers.
And of course, all of these features are optional. Those who prefer to browse for free can simply choose not to activate Brave Rewards.
Have you used the browser? Did you try the new BAT tip features? Share your experience below!
Images courtesy of Shutterstock
