Vana is the first network for user-owned data. It transforms how data is owned, shared, and monetized. The Vana L1 enables users to pool their data in DataDAOs while maintaining control and privacy. Developers can leverage these decentralized datasets to create next-generation applications, such as AI models and data-driven dApps.
Vana employs a single-token model with a native protocol token (VANA) that secures the network and facilitates transactions. It also provides the infrastructure for data-specific tokens issued by Data Liquidity Pools (DLPs) that represent rights to specific datasets. This dual-layer system enables efficient data operations while maintaining flexibility for specialized data markets.
The VANA token functions as a fundamental index of data utility across the network. As Data Liquidity Pools create and operate their own tokens tied to specific datasets, activity on these pools is naturally reflected in VANA through transaction fees and network usage. This creates an efficient proxy for the aggregate state of data assets in the network without requiring direct ownership of individual dataset tokens.
The native token is used for network security through validator staking, DLP staking which determines emission rewards for different DLPs, transaction fee payments for network operations, and as the primary trading pair on DEXes for all DLP tokens. The token targets a total supply of 120 million VANA, with fees supporting ongoing network operations and development.
The "Why"
The problem: In today’s data economy, tech giants profit from the data you generate, while you get nothing in return. Reddit for example, earns $200M from selling user-generated content as AI training data. Worse, you have no say in how your data is used or who benefits from it.
The solution: Vana changes that by giving you ownership over your data. Through DataDAOs, you can contribute, tokenize, and share your data. You decide how it’s used, and you get rewarded for it. With Vana, data becomes an asset that empowers you — whether it’s used in AI development or other applications.
The "How"
Here’s how Vana works for you:
Contribute Data: Users contribute data to DataDAOs. Contributions range from social media data to IoT and sensor data, all securely stored encrypted off-chain.
Tokenize: Validated data is tokenized, enabling secure data usage across different decentralized applications, particularly for AI model development.
Earn and Govern: Users gain governance rights in different DataDAOs, influencing decisions about data use and getting a share of profit when data is used.
Vana leverages blockchain to ensure transparency, security, and decentralization in how data is owned and shared.
A Quick Example
Imagine you’ve been tracking your health data for years. You contribute this data to a Data Liquidity Pool on Vana. It gets tokenized, verified, and becomes a valuable asset in the hands of AI developers who use it to build life-saving medical models.
As these models grow and generate revenue, you earn a share of that — finally gaining financial returns from the data you’ve been giving away for free. Plus, you’re part of the decision-making process, helping shape how this data is used in the future of healthcare.
