Overview

Vana is the first distributed network designed for private, user-owned data, enabling individuals to take control of their data and contribute to user-owned AI models. Originally an MIT research project, Vana operates as an open-source, permissionless, and decentralized network focused on restoring individual ownership over personal data. It functions as an EVM-compatible layer-1 blockchain that facilitates secure and private data transactions at both individual and collective levels, allowing users to decide who accesses their data and earn rewards when it is utilized. Through Data Liquidity Pools (DLPs) and DataDAOs, Vana liberates data from centralized platforms, ensuring that AI models can access diverse and high-quality datasets while maintaining privacy. The platform also introduces a non-custodial approach, where users can access and control their data through blockchain wallets, much like digital assets. To drive adoption and innovation, Vana offers initiatives such as the Vana Academy, an accelerator program for data capital businesses, Vana Grow, which supports the development of high-value datasets, and Vana Visionaries, a community-driven effort to promote data ownership. The network is governed by $VANA, which facilitates staking, transaction payments, data access, and decentralized decision-making. By integrating blockchain coordination, privacy-preserving technologies, and tokenized incentives, Vana enables individuals to reclaim their data rights while supporting the growth of AI and other applications.

Whitepaper & Documents