docs/content/concepts/introduction.md

---
title: Introduction
description: Ocean Protocol - Tools for the Web3 Data Economy
---

In Ocean Protocol, each asset gets its own ERC721 **data NFT** and one(or more) ERC20 **datatokens**. This enables data wallets, data exchanges, and data co-ops by directly leveraging crypto wallets, exchanges, and more.

OCEAN token is used for staking, and more. [Here](https://oceanprotocol.com/token) are details.

Ocean Protocol provides tools for developers to _build data markets_, and to _manage data NFTs and datatokens_ for use in DeFi.

**Build Data Markets.** Use Ocean Protocol software tools to build your own data marketplace, by either forking [Ocean Market](https://market.oceanprotocol.com/) code or building up with Ocean components.

**Manage Datatokens and Data NFTs for use in DeFi.** Use Ocean [JavaScript](https://github.com/oceanprotocol/ocean.js) or [Python](https://github.com/oceanprotocol/ocean.py) drivers to manage data NFTs and datatokens:

- _Publish and consume data services:_ downloadable files or compute-to-data. Use Ocean to deploy a new [ERC721](https://github.com/ethereum/EIPs/blob/master/EIPS/eip-721.md) and [ERC20](https://github.com/ethereum/EIPs/blob/7f4f0377730f5fc266824084188cc17cf246932e/EIPS/eip-20.md) datatoken contract for each data service, then mint datatokens.

- _Transfer datatokens_ to another owner (or approve & transferFrom).

- _Manage pools._ Deploy OCEAN-datatoken [Balancer](https://www.balancer.finance/) pools, buy & sell datatokens (swap), and add & remove liquidity.

- _And more._ Use ERC20 support in [web3.js](https://web3js.readthedocs.io/), [web3.py](https://web3py.readthedocs.io/en/stable/examples.html#working-with-an-erc20-token-contract) and Solidity to connect datatokens with crypto wallets and other DeFi services.

**Compute-to-Data**
Ocean's "Compute-to-Data" feature gives compute access to privately-held data, which never leaves the data owner’s premises. Ocean-based marketplaces enable the monetization of private data while preserving privacy. [Here](/tutorials/compute-to-data-architecture/) are details.
-												basic markdown pages generation & global styling setup

											
										
										
											2018-11-07 16:13:20 +01:00
+								---
 								title: Introduction
-												fully change the intro, towards super pragmatic actions (based on new ones in main site)

											
										
										
											2020-10-16 12:16:38 +02:00
+								description: Ocean Protocol - Tools for the Web3 Data Economy
-												basic markdown pages generation & global styling setup

											
										
										
											2018-11-07 16:13:20 +01:00
+								---
-												Issue:#934: Introduction page content

											
										
										
											2022-03-30 14:23:47 +02:00
+								In Ocean Protocol, each asset gets its own ERC721 **data NFT** and one(or more) ERC20 **datatokens**. This enables data wallets, data exchanges, and data co-ops by directly leveraging crypto wallets, exchanges, and more.
-												More docs: introduction, marketplace help, etc.

											
										
										
											2018-11-08 16:50:33 +01:00
-												many improvements to content/concepts

											
										
										
											2020-10-17 08:05:17 +02:00
+								OCEAN token is used for staking, and more. [Here](https://oceanprotocol.com/token) are details.
-												Issue-#909: Update introduction page

											
										
										
											2022-03-10 15:29:52 +01:00
+								Ocean Protocol provides tools for developers to _build data markets_, and to _manage data NFTs and datatokens_ for use in DeFi.
-												content updates

											
										
										
											2018-11-09 18:14:40 +01:00
-												tweak

											
										
										
											2020-10-17 07:36:40 +02:00
+								**Build Data Markets.** Use Ocean Protocol software tools to build your own data marketplace, by either forking [Ocean Market](https://market.oceanprotocol.com/) code or building up with Ocean components.
-												More docs: introduction, marketplace help, etc.

											
										
										
											2018-11-08 16:50:33 +01:00
-												Issue-#909: Update introduction page

											
										
										
											2022-03-10 15:29:52 +01:00
+								**Manage Datatokens and Data NFTs for use in DeFi.** Use Ocean [JavaScript](https://github.com/oceanprotocol/ocean.js) or [Python](https://github.com/oceanprotocol/ocean.py) drivers to manage data NFTs and datatokens:
-												More docs: introduction, marketplace help, etc.

											
										
										
											2018-11-08 16:50:33 +01:00
-												Issue-909: Fix link issue

											
										
										
											2022-03-11 13:35:10 +01:00
+								- _Publish and consume data services:_ downloadable files or compute-to-data. Use Ocean to deploy a new [ERC721](https://github.com/ethereum/EIPs/blob/master/EIPS/eip-721.md) and [ERC20](https://github.com/ethereum/EIPs/blob/7f4f0377730f5fc266824084188cc17cf246932e/EIPS/eip-20.md) datatoken contract for each data service, then mint datatokens.
-												intro update

											
										
										
											2018-11-16 13:12:52 +01:00
-												markdown fixes

											
										
										
											2020-10-20 23:05:12 +02:00
+								- _Transfer datatokens_ to another owner (or approve & transferFrom).
-												intro update

											
										
										
											2018-11-16 13:12:52 +01:00
-												markdown fixes

											
										
										
											2020-10-20 23:05:12 +02:00
+								- _Manage pools._ Deploy OCEAN-datatoken [Balancer](https://www.balancer.finance/) pools, buy & sell datatokens (swap), and add & remove liquidity.
-												intro update

											
										
										
											2018-11-16 13:12:52 +01:00
-												markdown fixes

											
										
										
											2020-10-20 23:05:12 +02:00
+								- _And more._ Use ERC20 support in [web3.js](https://web3js.readthedocs.io/), [web3.py](https://web3py.readthedocs.io/en/stable/examples.html#working-with-an-erc20-token-contract) and Solidity to connect datatokens with crypto wallets and other DeFi services.
-												Issue-#909: Update introduction page

											
										
										
											2022-03-10 15:29:52 +01:00
 								**Compute-to-Data**
 								Ocean's "Compute-to-Data" feature gives compute access to privately-held data, which never leaves the data owner’s premises. Ocean-based marketplaces enable the monetization of private data while preserving privacy. [Here](/tutorials/compute-to-data-architecture/) are details.