What is Kusama?
Kusama is a scalable network of specialized blockchains built using Substrate, sharing nearly the same codebase as Polkadot. It serves as an experimental development environment for teams aiming to innovate quickly or prepare for deployment on Polkadot.
Background
Founded in 2019 by Gavin Wood, the founder of Polkadot and former CTO of Ethereum, Kusama is designed as a risk-taking, fast-moving ‘canary in the coal mine’ for its cousin, Polkadot.
How It Works
Kusama shares the same codebase and tools with Polkadot and is often considered a ‘real-stakes’ testing ground for Polkadot. It receives early Polkadot code releases, allowing developers to test runtime upgrades, on-chain governance, and parachains. Its primary function is to serve as an experimental environment for fast-moving projects.
Key Takeaways
- Kusama is a scalable, experimental network of specialized blockchains built using Substrate, sharing nearly the same codebase as Polkadot.
- It was founded in 2019 by Gavin Wood, the founder of Polkadot and former CTO of Ethereum.
- Kusama acts as a risk-taking, fast-moving ‘canary in the coal mine’ for Polkadot, serving as a platform for innovation and disruption.
- It receives early Polkadot code releases, providing developers with a testing ground for runtime upgrades, on-chain governance, and parachains.
- Kusama’s primary function is to serve as an experimental environment for fast-moving projects, making it ideal for teams wanting to innovate quickly or prepare for deployment on Polkadot.
