Kusama (KSM): how it works, supply and reviews
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Key facts
- Ticker
- KSM
- Network
- own blockchain
- Official site
- kusama.network
- Source code
- github.com/paritytech/polkadot-sdk
Data: CoinGecko, 2026-10-27. Only projects that still trade with meaningful volume are listed.
What is Kusama
Kusama is Polkadot's "canary network": an independent, proof-of-stake blockchain that runs an earlier release of Polkadot's code with real economic value. Its native token, KSM, is used for fees, staking, governance and buying coretime.
Network and consensus
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Independent, standalone network sharing much of its code with Polkadot |
| Consensus | Nominated proof of stake; switched from proof of authority on 28 October 2019 |
| Validators | 700 validators in the active set |
| Block time | 6 seconds; block times and throughput are the same as Polkadot's |
| Role | Parachains and runtime upgrades are deployed on Kusama first; balances and staking now live on Kusama Asset Hub |
Supply and issuance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum supply | No fixed cap; KSM is inflationary |
| Inflation | 10% a year, split between staking rewards and the on-chain treasury depending on how much KSM is staked |
| Staking rewards | The model targets an ideal staking rate (shown as 60%) and adjusts rewards to steer stakers towards it |
| Initial distribution | Participants in the Polkadot token sale could claim a proportional amount of KSM |
What KSM is used for
- Paying transaction fees.
- Staking as a validator or nominator to secure the network.
- Voting in on-chain governance; there is no central kill switch.
- Buying coretime, the blockspace used by parachains.
Who develops and governs Kusama
- Governance
- Fully on-chain; KSM holders decide all changes, with shorter voting and enactment periods than Polkadot
- Upgrade speed
- Governance events run up to four times faster than on Polkadot
- Foundation
- Web3 Foundation supports teams building on Kusama and Polkadot
- Developer
- At the 2019 switch to proof of stake, Web3 Foundation ran 9 and Parity Technologies 6 of the first 20 validators
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 28 October 2019 | Kusama moves from proof of authority to proof of stake with 20 validators. |
| 4 January 2020 | A misnamed runtime upgrade halts block production; the chain is rolled back and restored on 7 January 2020. |
| 15 June 2021 | The first public parachain slot auction starts on Kusama. |
Security and audits
- On 4 January 2020 a wrongly named runtime upgrade halted the chain; it was restored by a rollback on 7 January 2020.
- Kusama is deliberately experimental: upgrades and new features reach it before Polkadot.
Risks and caveats
- Kusama is explicitly experimental and positioned as a place where things can break.
- KSM has no supply cap; inflation is set at 10% a year.
- Faster governance means upgrades can be proposed, voted and enacted with less waiting time than on Polkadot.
Official links
- Website: kusama.network
- Docs: wiki.polkadot.com/kusama/kusama-getting-started
- Source code: github.com/paritytech/polkadot-sdk
- Token economics: research.web3.foundation/Polkadot/overview/token-economics
Questions and answers
What is Kusama (KSM)?
Kusama is Polkadot's canary network: an independent proof-of-stake blockchain that runs an earlier release of Polkadot's code with real value. KSM is its native token.
Who created Kusama?
Kusama shares its code with Polkadot. At its 2019 switch to proof of stake, Web3 Foundation and Parity Technologies ran most of the first validators; Web3 Foundation continues to support it.
What is the maximum supply of KSM?
There is no fixed maximum. KSM inflation is set at 10% a year, paid to stakers and the treasury.
How does Kusama differ from Polkadot?
Block times and throughput are the same, but Kusama's governance runs up to four times faster and parachain bonding requirements are lower.
Sources
- CoinGecko — Kusama
- Polkadot Wiki — Kusama: getting started
- Polkadot Wiki — Kusama timeline
- Polkadot Wiki — KSM inflation
- Polkadot Wiki — Polkadot vs Kusama
- Polkadot Wiki — Chain state values
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