Kava (KAVA): how it works, supply and reviews

In short

Type: Layer-1 blockchain with an Ethereum co-chain and a Cosmos co-chain linked by a translator module
Inflation: Zero since 31 December 2023 (Kava 15 upgrade)
Risks and caveats: Since inflation ended, staking rewards depend on the community pool, fees and foundation allocations rather than new issuance.
Checked: 28 October 2026

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Key facts

Ticker: KAVA
Official site: kava.io
Source code: github.com/Kava-Labs/kava

Key facts checked on 28 October 2026 against official sources.

What is Kava

Kava is a layer-1 blockchain built with the Cosmos SDK that runs two connected environments: an Ethereum-compatible (EVM) co-chain and a Cosmos co-chain. KAVA is the native token used for staking, governance and network security.

Network and consensus

Network and consensus — Kava
Parameter	Details
Type	Layer-1 blockchain with an Ethereum co-chain and a Cosmos co-chain linked by a translator module
Consensus	Proof of stake on the Tendermint Core BFT engine; the top 100 validators produce blocks
Smart contracts	Yes; Solidity contracts run on the EVM co-chain
Interoperability	Connected to the Cosmos ecosystem through IBC since 19 January 2022

Supply and issuance

Supply and issuance — Kava
Parameter	Details
Inflation	Zero since 31 December 2023 (Kava 15 upgrade)
Maximum supply	Fixed: circulating supply equals maximum supply, and no new KAVA can be created
Staking rewards	Staking rewards are paid from the community pool, funded by fees, native project emissions and interim Kava Foundation allocations

What KAVA is used for

Staking by validators to secure the network, with slashing for downtime or double signing
Voting on governance proposals and network parameters
Funding ecosystem incentives for projects on both co-chains

Who develops and governs Kava

Governance: Kava DAO of stakers and validators, using on-chain proposals for parameters and community-pool spending
Foundation: Kava Foundation provides interim allocations to support network operations
Developer: Kava Labs maintains the node software on GitHub
Open source: Yes; released under the Apache-2.0 license

History

History — Kava
Date	Event
19 January 2022	Kava connects to the Cosmos ecosystem through IBC.
May 2023	Governance Proposal 141 passes, setting the path to zero inflation.
7 December 2023	Kava 15 upgrade goes live on mainnet.
31 December 2023	KAVA inflation set to zero permanently; supply becomes fixed.

Security and audits

Validators that fail to keep high uptime or that double-sign transactions can have their staked KAVA slashed.

Risks and caveats

Since inflation ended, staking rewards depend on the community pool, fees and foundation allocations rather than new issuance.
KAVA also exists as a BEP-2 token on Binance Chain, which must not be sent directly to the Kava chain.
Staked KAVA can be slashed if a validator misbehaves or goes offline.

Official links

Questions and answers

What is Kava (KAVA)?

Kava is a Cosmos SDK layer-1 blockchain with an EVM co-chain and a Cosmos co-chain. KAVA is its staking and governance token.

Does KAVA have inflation?

No. Since 31 December 2023 inflation is zero, circulating supply equals maximum supply, and KAVA can only be burned.

How does Kava reach consensus?

Kava uses proof of stake on the Tendermint Core BFT engine, with the top 100 validators producing blocks.

Who governs Kava?

The Kava DAO of stakers and validators votes on on-chain proposals, including community-pool spending.

Sources

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Page updated: 2026-10-31