Stage 4: Launching a VRC-20 Token

🚧

Looking for the latest setup guide?

This page is outdated. We’ve released a fully updated guide with everything you need to launch a DataDAO using the latest tools: VRC-20 contracts, contributor UI, PoC, refinement, and more.

👉 Follow the new step-by-step guide

It’s the fastest and most reliable way to get started today.

VRC-20 is the standard token format used by DataDAOs on Vana — based on the VRC-20 ecosystem standard.

It ensures:

• ✅ Clear token utility tied to data contribution and access
• 🔐 Rules around minting, vesting, and liquidity
• 🌐 Compatibility with ecosystem rewards and integrations

This page covers how to launch a VRC-20 token or upgrade your existing one (like a DAT token).

1. Fork and Deploy

Start from the official implementation of the VRC-20 standard. It's currently under audit — final version expected by May 26.

It includes:

• ERC-20 base
• Transfer fee cap
• Built-in support for required vesting

2. Enforce Vesting for Team Allocations

If you allocate tokens to the team or early contributors:

• Lock them for at least 6 months
• Unlock linearly after that

Use the built-in DAT Vesting Factory from the same repo.

No custom logic needed — it’s already wired to follow VRC-20 rules.

3. Define Data Utility

Every VRC-20 token must serve a role in your DataDAO's data lifecycle.

Examples:

• “Holding this token grants access to query our dataset.”
• “Contributors earn this token for submitting valid data.”
• “Token holders vote on model quality scores.”

Add this to your README or docs. Brief information is enough.

4. Verify Your VRC-20 Token

All VRC-20 tokens should be publicly verified on Vanascan.

• If you deployed a new token using the official template, verify it right after deployment.
• If you made any modifications (e.g. name, symbol, supply), verification ensures transparency and confirms you're using a compliant implementation.

🔁 If You Already Have a DAT Token

DAT tokens are not VRC-20 compliant by default. You must upgrade your contract:

1. 🔒 Send team tokens to a compliant vesting contract
   • Minimum 6-month lock
   • Linear unlock after that
   • Use the OpenZeppelin VestingWallet as one of the vesting implementations
2. 🧱 CallblockMint() to freeze total supply
   • This disables further minting permanently

🚧

Reminder: Rewards Eligibility

Having a VRC-20-compliant token is one of the key requirements for receiving DataDAO rewards.

If you want to be eligible for Epoch 6 rewards, make sure you complete your upgrade or deployment before the end of Epoch 6.

Submit your token for Vana's team review — whether you deployed a new VRC-20 or upgraded a DAT. Unsubmitted tokens won’t be counted.