[Crypto projects](https://revain.org/projects/) › Kusama

# Kusama (KSM): how it works, supply and reviews

## Key facts

- **Ticker**: KSM
- **Network**: own blockchain
- **Official site**: [kusama.network](https://kusama.network/)
- **Source code**: [github.com/paritytech/polkadot-sdk](https://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](https://kusama.network)
- Docs: [wiki.polkadot.com/kusama/kusama-getting-started](https://wiki.polkadot.com/kusama/kusama-getting-started/)
- Source code: [github.com/paritytech/polkadot-sdk](https://github.com/paritytech/polkadot-sdk)
- Token economics: [research.web3.foundation/Polkadot/overview/token-economics](https://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](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/kusama)
- [Polkadot Wiki — Kusama: getting started](https://wiki.polkadot.com/kusama/kusama-getting-started/)
- [Polkadot Wiki — Kusama timeline](https://wiki.polkadot.com/kusama/kusama-timeline/)
- [Polkadot Wiki — KSM inflation](https://wiki.polkadot.com/kusama/kusama-inflation/)
- [Polkadot Wiki — Polkadot vs Kusama](https://wiki.polkadot.com/learn/learn-comparisons-kusama/)
- [Polkadot Wiki — Chain state values](https://wiki.polkadot.com/general/chain-state-values/)

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- [All Crypto projects →](https://revain.org/projects/)

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Page updated: 2026-10-29

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Source: https://revain.org/projects/kusama/