What Is Kusama (KSM)?
Kusama, often dubbed “Polkadot’s wild cousin,” is an experimental blockchain platform designed to provide a scalable, interoperable framework for developers. Built on Substrate—a blockchain development toolkit by Parity Technologies—Kusama shares nearly identical code with Polkadot, one of the most successful interoperable blockchains.
👉 Discover how Kusama empowers decentralized innovation
Key Features of Kusama
- Canary Network: Acts as a testing ground for developers to deploy experimental blockchains before launching on Polkadot.
- Low Barriers: Offers easier parachain deployment and lower validator requirements compared to Polkadot.
- Scalability: Uses a sharded network to enable high throughput and cross-chain communication.
While intended as a preparatory network, many projects choose Kusama for their final products due to its flexibility.
Founders of Kusama
Kusama was created by Gavin Wood, co-founder of Ethereum and founder of Polkadot. Developed by Parity Technologies, Kusama serves as a proving ground for Polkadot’s technology.
What Makes Kusama Unique?
- Experimental Playground: Unlike Polkadot’s conservative updates, Kusama allows rapid iteration, making it ideal for cutting-edge projects.
- Governance: Features on-chain voting and faster upgrade cycles (7-day referenda vs. Polkadot’s 30 days).
- Parachain Auctions: Projects lease slots via crowdfunding (KSM token holders participate).
👉 Explore Kusama’s parachain auctions
KSM Tokenomics
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Supply | 10 million KSM |
| Circulating Supply | ~8.9 million KSM (as of 2025) |
| Use Cases | Staking, governance, parachain bonding |
How Is Kusama Secured?
Kusama uses a Nominated Proof-of-Stake (NPoS) consensus:
– Validators: Secure the network by staking KSM.
– Nominators: Back validators to earn rewards.
Where to Buy Kusama (KSM)?
Top exchanges for KSM trading:
1. Binance
2. OKX
3. Kraken
FAQs
1. How does Kusama differ from Polkadot?
Kusama is faster and risk-tolerant, while Polkadot prioritizes stability. Think of Kusama as a “testnet with economic stakes.”
2. Can KSM tokens be staked?
Yes! Staking KSM earns rewards and supports network security.
3. What are parachains?
Independent blockchains that lease slots on Kusama to interact with its ecosystem.
4. Is Kusama a good investment?
High-risk, high-reward. Its value hinges on Polkadot’s adoption and parachain demand.
5. How do I participate in governance?
Hold KSM and vote on proposals via Kusama’s Treasury or Council.
6. What’s the future of Kusama?
Expect more DeFi, NFT, and Web3 projects leveraging its agility.
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