What is Kusama? The Canarian network of Polkadot explains

What is Kusama? The Canarian network of Polkadot explains

Polkadot has undoubtedly become one of the most popular projects in the field of cryptocurrency. However, one of the most innovative aspects of his ecosystem is Kusama, the Canarian network of Polkadot.

While new blockchain projects can appear extremely repetitive and derived, Kusama is characterized by the fact that it is really useful.

This guide should answer some of the following questions about Kusama: What it is, what it can do and what risks are connected to a Canarian network.

overview of Kusama

Before we immerse yourself, we have to define two key elements: polar cadot and a "canary bird network". To summarize it, polkadot (dot) is a blockchain-network, that :

combines blockchains with each other users enables the simple structure of a blockchain with their substrate framework hosts blockchains, handles their safety and transactions bridges blockchains on polkadot with other networks such as Ethereum and Bitcoin

Next the term "Canarienes network". The name is derived from the term "canary in a coal mine". In the past, miner canaries carried in the mine because the birds sang and stopped in their cages when a dangerous gas leak appeared and died.

They served as an early warning for the miners and made them aware of dangers. Kusama fulfills the same function as a virtual copy of Polkadot and thus enables the most realistic test environment for blockchain projects. The good news is that Kusama acts as a "canary network" without actually harming birds.

Photo by Jelle Taman on Unsplash

Special features of Kusama

Kusama has several obvious features, but also acts as an ecosystem within the larger polkadot ecosystem. The greatest is its almost identical resemblance to the Polkadot architecture and structure.

It acts as a test network, but the term does not quite cover the level of the test projects that can be carried out before starting your project paracettes on polkadot.

Kusama continuously not only tests the various projects, but also the ecosystem itself. It is always one step ahead of trying to try out new functions that the latter finally wants to use after clarification of the kink, and offers the team a vehicle that enables them to be much more innovative and to take up great risks without the Polkadot ecosystem in danger.

Other functions of Kusama are:

Take part by purchasing KSM, the native token of Kusama. according to in the wiki of Polkadot can those who have taken part in the polkadot sale via KSM claim the Kusama Claims process. The acquisition of a parachain slot (necessary for testing for Kusama to do this is an important feature). Chains can be chosen as "non-profit" parachain, win a parachain auction or set up as a "parathread", which is essentially a pay-as-you-go access with an auction for each block. Set up as a validator. This is an excellent way to go through the process and understand the expectations/requirements before switching to Polkadot, since the minimum requirement for staking on Kusama is lower. Alternatively, users can set up as a nominator, a role that requires a lot of stitching, but enables a “set it and forget it” approach. Nominators appoint their use to validators and either receive part of the reward percentage or are shortened if the validator they nominated acts poorly and is shortened. Staking also enables users to propose and coordinate referenders, which contributes to the fact that the network develops and improves over time.

risks

With every ambitious project, there is always a risk. For Kusama, his existence is mainly intended to reduce the risk of Polkadot. To do this, however, it has to pursue an above -average risk acceptance policy, and even if individual projects are risky, they could be affected by a major problem caused by the test of another chain or even a test by Kusama itself.

Nothing is guaranteed in a hyperinnovative industry, and blockchain is certainly no exception. Technical disorders, market fluctuations and government regulation all contribute their own potential problems to pursue a paracitus on Kusama. To be fair, these latter risks are also available for every blockchain.

conclusion

Kusama is not without sense of humor, and you have a very good idea of the purpose of the platform in the larger polkadot ecosystem.

A slogan for Kusama is "expect chaos", and it is a fair memory that this is a test network when everything is said and done. The fact that it is one of the most realistic test networks on the market and therefore almost a clone of Polkadot makes chaos all the more likely. However, it is all for a very positive and targeted goal: to make the Polkadot ecosystem and every parachain hosted in it best and the most durable blockchain projects.

For more information about Kusama, please visit the project Official website .

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