Polychain-backed OpenLedger launches OPEN mainnet for AI data attribution and creator payments

OpenLedger has launched the OPEN Mainnet, introducing a decentralized network the team designed to provide data provenance and automated contributor compensation for artificial intelligence systems — an approach the company argues is increasingly needed as lawsuits, regulatory pressure, and public skepticism mount around how AI models source their training data.

Tuesday’s rollout formalizes what the web3 firm calls “Payable AI,” allowing users to upload datasets into shared “datanets,” where developers can train models and automatically route payments through smart contracts. According to OpenLedger, the model is intended to replicate the economics of creator platforms such as YouTube, while supporting the earning power of researchers, writers, and domain experts who provide training for AI systems.

The launch also comes as attribution has become one of AI’s most debated issues, the protocol’s team opined. AI firms face growing scrutiny for scraping public data without compensation. U.S. public trust in AI has fallen sharply over the past five years, and several pending lawsuits against companies like OpenAI and Google highlight the legal and structural gaps in data sourcing practices.

Proof-of-attribution and payable AI

At the center of OPEN Mainnet is a “Proof of Attribution” system that records the lineage of every dataset, model, and agent onchain. Each AI output can be traced back to its source contributors, enabling verifiable credits and automated payouts based on actual usage.

Developers integrating with the network can build AI agents without managing infrastructure or data custody, OpenLedger stated.

Furthermore, contributions are handled by the protocol’s OPEN token, which distributes rewards based on onchain attribution trails. The company describes the infrastructure as a “Data-as-a-Shared-Service,” giving data producers tools to plug into AI supply chains and earn passively as models consume their work.

Backed by Polychain and Borderless Capital

OpenLedger previously raised an $8 million seed round led by Polychain Capital and Borderless Capital, as The Block reported earlier this year. The company has since positioned itself as part of a growing class of web3 AI infrastructure projects seeking to merge cryptographic verification with machine learning workflows.

The Block also profiled OpenLedger in The Intersection of Crypto and AI podcast series, where the team stressed that transparent provenance could become a critical regulatory and commercial requirement as AI adoption scales.

Meanwhile, the OPEN token has been trading since September and debuted on Binance. Like the broader AI-themed altcoin segment, it has faced heavy downward pressure and is currently trading more than 80% below its launch levels, according to CoinGecko.