How to Set Up Brave Rewards for Earning BAT Tokens

Install or Update Brave Browser

Download the latest version of Brave Browser from brave.com if you do not already have it installed. If you already have Brave, ensure it is updated to the latest version by clicking the hamburger menu, selecting About Brave, and allowing any pending updates to install. Brave Rewards is built directly into the browser and does not require a separate download or extension. The feature is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, though the iOS version has limited Rewards functionality due to Apple App Store restrictions on cryptocurrency-related features in browsers.

Enable Brave Rewards

Open Brave Browser and click on the triangle BAT icon in the address bar area, or navigate to brave://rewards in the address bar. Click the toggle or button to turn on Brave Rewards. When you enable Rewards, you are opting into seeing privacy-preserving advertisements that appear as small system notifications or as sponsored images on new tab pages. These ads are matched to your interests locally on your device without sending your browsing data to any server. You earn Basic Attention Token (BAT) for each ad you view, and the earnings accumulate in your Rewards balance displayed on the Brave Rewards panel.

Configure Ad Display Preferences

Access your Brave Rewards settings to customize how many ads you see and earn from. Navigate to brave://rewards and find the notification ad settings. Choose the maximum number of ads per hour you are willing to see, with options typically ranging from one to ten ads per hour. Higher ad frequency means more earning potential but also more notifications. You can also toggle sponsored images on new tab pages for additional passive earnings. Note that ad availability varies by region, and users in countries with more advertiser demand will see more ads and consequently earn more BAT than users in regions with fewer Brave advertisers.

Connect a Custodial Wallet

To withdraw your earned BAT tokens, you need to connect a verified custodial wallet to your Brave Rewards. Brave currently supports Uphold, Gemini, and Bitflyer as custodial partners depending on your region. Click the Verify button in the Rewards panel and choose your preferred wallet provider. You will be redirected to create an account with that provider if you do not have one, or to log in to your existing account. Complete the identity verification process required by the wallet provider, which typically involves uploading a government-issued ID and providing personal information for regulatory compliance. Once verified, your Brave Rewards will automatically transfer to your connected wallet.

Start Earning and Track Your Rewards

With Rewards enabled and ads configured, you will begin earning BAT passively as you browse. Each ad notification you see credits a small amount of BAT to your pending rewards. Brave processes and distributes accumulated earnings on a monthly payment cycle, typically around the fifth of each month. Check your earnings summary in the Rewards panel by clicking the BAT icon, where you can see your current month's estimated earnings, total ads received, and your cumulative BAT balance. If your wallet is connected, the monthly payout transfers automatically. Earnings vary but typical users report earning between two and ten dollars worth of BAT per month depending on browsing frequency and ad availability in their region.

Tip Content Creators with BAT

One of the unique features of Brave Rewards is the ability to tip website publishers, YouTube creators, Twitter users, and other content creators directly with your earned BAT. When you visit a website or YouTube channel that is registered as a Brave Verified Creator, the BAT icon in the address bar will show a checkmark. Click it to send a one-time tip or set up a recurring monthly contribution. You can also enable Auto-Contribute, which automatically distributes a portion of your BAT to the verified sites you visit most frequently based on your browsing time. This creates a direct revenue stream for creators that bypasses traditional advertising intermediaries.