The First Project Report: How VANA Reshapes Data Ownership and AI Training

In today's digital age, data has become a more precious resource than gold. Tech giants gain immense commercial benefits by collecting and analyzing users' personal data, while users often do not receive their due returns. This unequal trade of data and invasion of privacy has become a serious issue in modern society.
Vana was born to break this status quo and challenge the existing data economy model. Through decentralized technology, Vana allows every user to regain control over their data and even utilize this data to train AI models, thereby obtaining direct benefits. In the world of Vana, users are not only the creators of data but also the owners and beneficiaries, redefining the value and rights of data.

1. What is VANA?

Vana is a decentralized AI data protocol designed to empower users to participate in AI model training, management, and profit from their own data. Through a decentralized organization called "Data DAO," Vana enables users to own and manage their personal data while protecting their privacy, and earn rewards by contributing data and models. Vana's unique data liquidity network allows data to flow, trade, and appreciate like financial assets.
Vana originated from a research project at MIT in 2018, aimed at allowing users to own their data and the AI models they create. It is fully open-source and operates in a permissionless decentralized network. The Open Data Foundation is committed to promoting the large-scale adoption of the Vana protocol, while other contributing organizations like Corsali focus on research and development.

In the Web2 era, platform companies commercialize by collecting user data without compensation. For example, ByteDance's Toutiao can generate hundreds of billions of RMB in advertising revenue in a year. Even though content creators receive some share on the platform, the core benefits remain firmly controlled by the company.
Vana combines blockchain technology and decentralized data management, allowing each user's data to be used for AI training without infringing on privacy, while ensuring data ownership belongs to the user. The platform employs two core mechanisms: proof of contribution and non-custodial data mechanisms, ensuring data privacy and security.

2. VANA Operation Model

Vana's operation relies on its "data liquidity network," which includes core functions such as:

• Data DAO: Users upload their private data, which is integrated into various data DAOs, such as Reddit Data DAO, GPT Data DAO, etc.
• Token Incentives: Users earn platform-specific token incentives by contributing data, participating in training, and owning AI models. These tokens can be used for data exchange, AI model rewards, or participating in governance decisions.
• Privacy Protection: Through the "proof of contribution" and "non-custodial data" mechanisms, Vana ensures that users' data is used only within authorized limits, safeguarding privacy.
• Multi-Token System: Vana introduces dedicated tokens for different datasets and models, such as dataset-specific tokens and AI model tokens, empowering the growth of the platform ecosystem.

3. Core Technology of VANA

Just as Bitcoin achieved trustless value transfer and Ethereum enabled programmable state transitions, Vana realizes programmable data ownership, with the core principle being personal data sovereignty. Vana's technical architecture relies on advanced blockchain and cryptographic technologies to ensure the security, privacy, and tradability of data in a decentralized environment. Key technologies include:

• Proof of Contribution Mechanism: Ensures that while protecting privacy, the value of user data can be verified. This allows users to contribute data with peace of mind and receive corresponding rewards.
• Non-Custodial Data Mechanism: Guarantees that data is used only for approved AI training, avoiding data leaks and misuse.
• EVM-Compatible Layer 1 Blockchain: Vana is based on an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain architecture, supporting decentralized operations and data flow, ensuring the platform's efficiency, security, and scalability.

4. VANA Team and Funding Information

Vana was co-founded by two experienced Filipino entrepreneurs, Anna Kazlauskas and Art Abal, with team members having rich backgrounds in computer science, economics, public policy, and AI.

• Anna Kazlauskas: She has a background in computer science and economics, participated in Ethereum mining in its early days, and conducted data research at international financial institutions. She also served as a policy advisor to the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, focusing on designing fair legal systems.
• Art Abal: A master's graduate in public policy from Harvard University, he led innovations in data collection methods at AI training data provider Appen.

From its inception, Vana has received support from top investment institutions, including Paradigm and Coinbase. The project's funding situation is as follows:

• December 2022: Completed $18 million in funding, led by Paradigm, with multiple investors participating.
• September 2024: Completed $5 million in strategic funding, led by Coinbase.
• Additionally, Vana has completed $2 million in undisclosed funding.

The team consists of blockchain technology experts and seasoned professionals in the AI field, dedicated to creating a decentralized, privacy-friendly data exchange platform that promotes the integration of AI and blockchain technologies.

5. VANA Token Economics

Vana's token economic model employs various incentive mechanisms to ensure the healthy operation of the ecosystem. Users earn VANA tokens through data contributions and AI model training, which can be used for DAO governance, data trading, and reward distribution. The circulation and reward mechanisms establish a closed loop that encourages users to continuously contribute high-quality data while providing strong momentum for the platform's ecosystem development. The distribution is as follows:
Core Contributors: 22,560,000 tokens, accounting for 18.8% of the total
Community: 52,800,000 tokens, accounting for 44.0% of the total
Investors: 17,040,000 tokens, accounting for 14.2% of the total
Ecosystem: 27,480,000 tokens, accounting for 22.9% of the total

VANA tokens are the native tokens within the platform, and users earn VANA token rewards by contributing data and training AI models. The main uses of the tokens include:

• Data Exchange and Rewards: Users can earn VANA token rewards after uploading data and participating in AI training.
• AI Model Governance: Users holding VANA tokens can participate in governance decisions on the platform, determining the rules for data and model usage.
• Trading and Liquidity: VANA tokens can also be used for trading within Vana's ecosystem, enhancing platform liquidity.

6. Future Value Analysis of VANA

Vana aims to become the core platform for decentralized data exchange and AI model training, with immense market potential. As AI technology continues to develop, decentralized data management will become an important trend for the future. By establishing a data DAO and a tokenized data liquidity network, Vana can provide users with a more controlled and valuable participation model.
The uniqueness of the platform lies in its ability to provide privacy protection for users while also incentivizing more users and developers to join through token economics. With the addition of more data DAOs and an increasing number of AI training models, Vana is expected to become a central hub in the AI industry, promoting the popularization of decentralized AI.
VANA tokens will be listed for trading on The First platform on February 27, 2025, at 16:00 (UTC+8). As an investor, you will have the opportunity to participate in trading during the early stages of VANA and gain more investment opportunities through the platform's efficient services. With Vana's continued expansion in the AI field, the value and demand for VANA tokens are expected to see significant growth. Join The First trading platform now to start your VANA token trading journey and witness the future of data ownership and the AI revolution together!