Vana Mainnet officially launches, $VANA empowers data as a new asset class in the global AI economy
TechFlow Selected TechFlow Selected
Vana Mainnet officially launches, $VANA empowers data as a new asset class in the global AI economy
Vana is the first decentralized network where users own their data, unlocking data as a new category of digital asset.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsAuthor: Vana
Compilation: TechFlow
During its testnet phase, over 1.3 million users contributed more than 6.5 million data points to train user-owned AI models. On the mainnet, DataDAOs will empower individuals to collectively own, monetize, and manage their personal data through the $VANA token, enabling participation in the rapidly growing AI economy.
Vana, a pioneering network for user data ownership, has announced the official launch of its mainnet and native token $VANA. This release marks a significant milestone in breaking down data barriers that have constrained AI development, while ensuring privacy protection and empowering users to share in the value generated from their data.
The Vana network was developed by Open Data Labs, a San Francisco-based research and technology company spun out of the MIT Media Lab. Vana is an EVM-compatible blockchain that enables users to retain ownership and control over their personal data while using privacy-preserving technologies to contribute data for training AI models.
The mainnet launch follows a successful testnet phase that brought together over 1.3 million users who contributed 6.5 million data points and processed approximately 1.7 million transactions per day. Anna Kazlauskas, CEO of Open Data Labs and inventor of Vana, stated that the testnet demonstrated programmable data ownership is not only feasible but essential for AI advancement:
"Today's mainnet launch marks a fundamental shift in how data ownership and monetization work in the age of AI. Users have always legally owned their data, yet platforms have captured all economic value—most users don't even realize their data belongs to them.
Vana lays the foundation for a new kind of data economy where users benefit from the AI models they help create, and developers finally gain access to cross-platform datasets needed to build powerful AI. Property rights are the bedrock of modern economic prosperity, and in today’s digital economy, programmable data rights are the foundation for the next generation of AI."
Key features of the Vana mainnet include:
-
Trustless verification via secure data onboarding and trusted execution nodes
-
Fine-grained permission controls giving users full control over data usage
-
Data provenance tracking to record how contributed data is used across applications
-
Data Liquidity Pools (DLPs) enabling collective data management and monetization through DataDAOs
-
Proof-of-contribution mechanism for fair rewards based on high-quality data input
-
Staking $VANA into DataDAOs via the Data Hub
Through the network’s proof-of-contribution system, users earn rewards by contributing data to DataDAOs, receiving tokens specific to certain datasets that grant governance rights—all while retaining control over how their data is used. These data tokens can be exchanged for the network’s native currency, $VANA. Top-performing DataDAOs also receive DataDAO rewards. Beyond data contribution, users can earn additional tokens by running nodes, validating transactions, and staking into DataDAOs.
The total supply of $VANA is capped at 120 million tokens and serves as the foundation of the network’s economic model, supporting:
-
Governance of network parameters and data usage policies
-
Staking to secure the network and verify data contributions
-
Incentives for contributors who submit high-quality data
-
Revenue sharing from AI model development and data utilization
DataDAOs being built on Vana include DNA DAO, addressing privacy concerns around genetic data ownership, and the expansion of the successful Reddit Data DAO, showcasing the potential of community-owned data pools. More information about DataDAOs on Vana can be found here.
The mainnet launch arrives at a critical moment when AI development faces data scarcity challenges and users increasingly demand greater control over their digital footprints. Vana’s solution empowers individuals to participate in and benefit from the AI economy while maintaining sovereignty over their data.
"The way we buy and sell private data in Web2 no longer works," said Art Abal, CEO of the Vana Foundation. "Our data is extracted and held hostage by a few platforms and data brokers. They decide the value of our data and the technologies it creates. Not anymore. This is just the beginning—a future where we get to decide both the value of our data and the technologies it builds. This is the data revolution!"
Users can begin staking $VANA into DataDAOs at this link. For more information, visit www.vana.org, read our documentation, follow us on X, or launch a new DataDAO.
Media Contact:
About Vana
Vana is the first decentralized network where users own their data, unlocking data as a new digital asset class. The Vana network consists of an EVM-compatible blockchain, secure personal server environments, and a suite of native contracts designed to enable trustless and secure exchange of user-owned data through DataDAOs. It empowers individuals to maintain control over their data while pooling it with others and earning rewards for their contributions—participating in the growing AI economy.
Media Kit | Vana Docs | X | Discord
About Vana Foundation
Vana Foundation is a non-profit entity responsible for ensuring the sustainability and growth of the Vana ecosystem.
About Open Data Labs
Open Data Labs is an independent research company focused on accelerating technologies that enable user-owned data. Open Data Labs created the Vana protocol and provides ongoing core developer services to the Vana Foundation.
Contact
Nick Vivion
Vana Foundation media@vanafoundation.org
Join TechFlow official community to stay tuned
Telegram:https://t.me/TechFlowDaily
X (Twitter):https://x.com/TechFlowPost
X (Twitter) EN:https://x.com/BlockFlow_News
@withvana
