Brave, the open-source web browser co-founded by Mozilla's co-founder, known for its ad-blocking and cryptocurrency-based micro-transactions, has revealed plans for its upcoming 1.0 release. The new version will transition to a Chromium base, making it compatible with all Google Chrome extensions and features. Brave emphasizes that the new browser will not include any code that “phones home to Google or the Chrome Web Store,” preserving its privacy-first ethos.
Chromium Migration and Extension Support
According to a document published by Brave, the team has been developing a new browser “based on Chromium […] which also uses Chromium’s native user interface instead of the current HTML and Javascript UI.” The rewrite is already available for developers as open source. The new release will “have support for nearly all Chrome features and extension APIs,” unlike the current Muon-based browser. Importantly, Brave for Android already uses Chromium fully, and has been stripped of code for “Google accounts, sync, or other Google-specific surveillance risks.”
The document notes that despite the switch to Chromium, the new browser will not contain any code that sends data back to Google, ensuring user data remains private. Brave 1.0 is expected “later this year,” but no specific launch date is given.
Additional Updates on the Horizon
The open-source version made available to developers is “not yet ready to be released as an upgrade.” Critical features such as Brave Payments, Tor private tabs, and sync still need to be added based on the Muon implementations. Meanwhile, Brave is also working on updating its iOS browser, moving from UI Web View to WK Web View to benefit from Apple’s newer engine and preferred embedding solution.
Lastly, Brave users will soon be able to opt-in to see private, privacy-respecting ads and receive a 70% revenue share on advertising earnings, paid in Brave’s cryptocurrency, Basic Attention Token (BAT). This model aims to incentivize users while maintaining privacy.
This update positions Brave as a serious contender to Chrome by integrating its ecosystem while retaining its core principles of decentralization, privacy, and cryptocurrency incentives.