Latest Kaspa (KAS) News Update

By CMC AI
23 February 2026 12:39PM (UTC+0)

What is the latest news on KAS?

TLDR

Kaspa's recent news highlights robust technical progress amid a challenging market, with major upgrades on the horizon. Here are the latest developments:

  1. Kaspa Hits 600 Million Transactions (20 February 2026) – Network surpasses a major adoption milestone, averaging nearly 387,000 daily transactions.

  2. Covenant-Centric Hardfork Planned for May 2026 (13 February 2026) – Upcoming upgrade will introduce native assets and smart contract functionality to Kaspa's Layer 1.

  3. Silverscript Smart Contract Language Unveiled (17 February 2026) – New high-level language aims to simplify development of complex DeFi applications on Kaspa.

Deep Dive

1. Kaspa Hits 600 Million Transactions (20 February 2026)

Overview: Kaspa's blockchain has processed over 600 million total transactions since its 2021 mainnet launch, a key indicator of network adoption and resilience. The network averages about 386,700 transactions per day and has demonstrated high throughput, handling over 150 million transactions in a single day in October 2025 without downtime. What this means: This is bullish for Kaspa because it validates the real-world utility and scalability of its BlockDAG architecture. Sustained high transaction volume suggests growing usage, which is a fundamental driver for long-term value. (BSC News)

2. Covenant-Centric Hardfork Planned for May 2026 (13 February 2026)

Overview: A major network upgrade is scheduled for activation on May 5, 2026. This hardfork will enable native assets (like KRC-20 tokens) and advanced programmable covenants directly on Kaspa's Layer 1, building upon the Crescendo upgrade's 10-blocks-per-second throughput. What this means: This is a pivotal development for Kaspa as it transitions from a high-speed payment layer to a programmable settlement base. The addition of native assets and smart contract foundations could significantly expand its developer ecosystem and use cases. (BSC News)

3. Silverscript Smart Contract Language Unveiled (17 February 2026)

Overview: Developer Ori Newman announced Silverscript, a high-level language and compiler designed specifically for Kaspa's UTXO-based BlockDAG. It introduces structured programming features like loops and functions, making it easier to write complex covenant logic. What this means: This is a neutral-to-bullish technical advancement that lowers the barrier to entry for developers on Kaspa. By providing better tools, the project aims to foster a richer DeFi and dApp ecosystem, though its success depends on post-hardfork adoption. (BSC News)

Conclusion

Kaspa is demonstrating strong fundamentals through record on-chain activity while methodically building toward a more programmable future with its May hardfork and new developer tools. Will the upcoming native assets and smart contracts catalyze the next wave of ecosystem growth?

What are people saying about KAS?

TLDR

Kaspa's community is holding its breath, betting on tech upgrades to break a long downtrend. Here’s what’s trending:

  1. Sentiment stays bullish despite the price dipping to multi-month lows.

  2. Technical analysts see a hidden bullish divergence, suggesting a potential breakout above $0.035.

  3. Builders highlight ecosystem growth with new apps, keeping fundamental conviction high.

  4. Some traders warn of a bearish flag pattern, indicating risk of further downside.

Deep Dive

1. @0xBoogieX: Price dips but bullish sentiment holds bullish

"Kaspa dips, bullish sentiment holds... Longer-term, $KAS has corrected significantly from its all-time high... but this aligns with altcoin cycles post-rally." – @0xBoogieX (1,009 followers · 19 February 2026 12:07 UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for $KAS because it shows core holders are viewing the ~80% drop from its all-time high as a typical market cycle, not a failure, maintaining conviction for a potential recovery.

2. @Lord_Kuba: Hidden bullish divergence signals buying pressure bullish

"We can see a hidden bullish divergence, where price is making higher lows while the RSI is printing lower lows. This can point to increasing buying pressure." – @Lord_Kuba (844 followers · 8 January 2026 13:46 UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for $KAS because the divergence between price and the RSI momentum indicator often precedes a trend reversal, suggesting underlying strength could fuel an upward move.

3. @KaspaBuilders: Bullish sentiment leads despite price noise bullish

"Right now, Kaspa ($KAS) sits at the #1 spot in bullish sentiment — ahead of DOT, SOL, BTC, ADA and more... While fundamentals, builders & adoption keep accelerating." – @KaspaBuilders (3,446 followers · 23 January 2026 09:23 UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for $KAS because sustained high sentiment metrics, coupled with real development like the K-Social app launch, indicate strong community belief that could attract capital when market conditions improve.

4. @KlondikeAI: Bearish flag pattern forms on 4H chart bearish

"$KAS is forming a Bearish Flag pattern on the 4H timeframe, indicating potential downward pressure despite the bullish market sentiment." – @KlondikeAI (3,079 followers · 15 January 2026 04:00 UTC) View original post What this means: This is bearish for $KAS in the short term because the flag pattern suggests a consolidation before a continuation of the prior downtrend, with a breakdown target near $0.0439.

Conclusion

The consensus on $KAS is mixed but leans bullish, with a resilient community viewing the deep correction as a buying opportunity tied to its BlockDAG fundamentals. While short-term charts show conflicting signals, the overarching narrative hinges on ecosystem growth and a decisive break above the $0.035 resistance. Watch for a daily close above that level to confirm if the bullish sentiment can finally translate into sustained price action.

What is the latest update in KAS’s codebase?

TLDR

Kaspa's codebase is evolving with major upgrades focused on smart contracts and enhanced security.

  1. Covenant++ Security Features (8 January 2026) – Adds native spending rules like whitelisting and time locks directly on Layer 1 for safer wallets.

  2. Covenant-Centric Hardfork (Planned May 2026) – A planned network upgrade to enable native assets and smart contract functionality on the base layer.

  3. Crescendo Performance Hardfork (5 May 2025) – Increased network speed tenfold to 10 blocks per second, enabling faster and cheaper transactions.

Deep Dive

1. Covenant++ Security Features (8 January 2026)

Overview: This update, powered by KIP-17, introduces native "covenants" to Kaspa. These are programmable rules attached to funds, allowing users to set conditions like whitelisted addresses or spending delays without relying on complex smart contracts.

The feature is currently live on Testnet 12. It enables several key security functions directly on Layer 1 UTXOs: Whitelisting restricts sends to pre-approved addresses; Time Locks impose a cooling period before funds move; Multi-Signature Requirements add extra approval layers; and a Dead Man's Switch can automatically transfer funds after a period of inactivity. These rules can be combined for sophisticated vaults.

What this means: This is bullish for Kaspa because it provides bank-grade security for everyday users directly on the fastest Proof-of-Work chain. It turns simple cash into self-protecting money, significantly reducing risks of theft, loss, or human error without slowing down transactions or increasing fees. (Cryptopumpzzzz)

2. Covenant-Centric Hardfork (Planned May 2026)

Overview: This is a planned, mandatory network upgrade (hardfork) that aims to fundamentally expand Kaspa's capabilities. Its core goal is to enable native assets and smart contract functionality directly on the Kaspa Layer 1 blockchain.

The upgrade will build upon the covenant system, allowing for more complex programmable logic. Planned ecosystem components include SilverScript for DeFi and formal KRC-20 token standards, which would allow developers to create tokens and applications natively on Kaspa.

What this means: This is extremely bullish for Kaspa because it represents the project's next major evolution from a pure payment network to a programmable platform. If successful, it could unlock a full DeFi and application ecosystem, driving new utility, developer activity, and user adoption. (BSC News)

3. Crescendo Performance Hardfork (5 May 2025)

Overview: This was a foundational network upgrade that significantly increased Kaspa's throughput and reduced latency. Implemented via KIP-14, it raised the block production rate from 1 block per second (1 BPS) to 10 blocks per second (10 BPS).

Technically, it increased the GHOSTDAG parameter K to 124 and the maximum block parents to 16. This allows more blocks to be processed in parallel every 100 milliseconds, which directly translates to higher potential transactions per second and faster confirmations for users.

What this means: This was bullish for Kaspa as it delivered on its core promise of speed, making transactions nearly instant and incredibly cheap. It provided the scalable base layer necessary for supporting high-volume applications and future upgrades like smart contracts. (CoinMarketCap)

Conclusion

Kaspa's development trajectory is clearly advancing from a high-speed digital cash system toward a secure, programmable Layer 1, with recent codebase updates laying the groundwork for native smart contracts and sophisticated asset control. Will the successful rollout of its Covenant++ and upcoming hardfork catalyze the first wave of scalable DeFi on a Proof-of-Work BlockDAG?

What is next on KAS’s roadmap?

TLDR

Kaspa's development continues with these milestones:

  1. Block Reward Reduction (6 March 2026) – Scheduled halving of miner rewards, impacting new supply issuance.

  2. Covenant-Centric Hardfork (May 2026) – Major upgrade to enable native assets and smart contract functionality on Layer 1.

  3. DAGKNIGHT Consensus Implementation (2027) – Planned shift to a more responsive and secure consensus protocol, targeting 100 blocks per second.

  4. Ecosystem & Adoption Growth (Ongoing) – Expansion of decentralized apps, enterprise initiatives, and community-building efforts.

Deep Dive

1. Block Reward Reduction (6 March 2026)

Overview: Kaspa's emission schedule includes periodic reductions in the block reward. The next reduction is scheduled for 6 March 2026, where the reward will decrease from the current 3.270 KAS per block (BSC News). This is a predictable, code-enforced event that gradually reduces the rate of new KAS entering circulation, aligning with its fixed total supply.

What this means: This is neutral for Kaspa as it's a pre-programmed feature, not a fundamental change. It could become bullish over the long term by reducing sell pressure from miners, but the immediate price impact is often muted as the event is widely anticipated.

2. Covenant-Centric Hardfork (May 2026)

Overview: This is the next major network upgrade, planned for May 2026. The hardfork will introduce "covenants" – rules that can be attached to transaction outputs – which are foundational for enabling native tokens (like KRC-20 standards) and basic smart contract functionality directly on Kaspa's Layer 1 (BSC News). It builds upon the scalability achieved with the 2025 Crescendo upgrade (10 BPS).

What this means: This is bullish for Kaspa because it transitions the network from a fast payment layer to a programmable base for DeFi and complex applications. Success hinges on developer adoption and seamless execution of the hardfork.

3. DAGKNIGHT Consensus Implementation (2027)

Overview: DAGKNIGHT is a next-generation consensus protocol researched as an upgrade to the current GHOSTDAG. It aims to be more responsive and secure, potentially allowing the network to scale towards a target of 100 blocks per second (10ms block time) (KASPA Enthusiast). The implementation is viewed as a long-term goal for 2027.

What this means: This is a highly ambitious, long-term bullish driver that would cement Kaspa's technical lead in Proof-of-Work scalability. The key risk is balancing higher speed with increased node requirements, which could affect decentralization if not managed carefully.

4. Ecosystem & Adoption Growth (Ongoing)

Overview: Beyond core protocol upgrades, Kaspa's roadmap is fueled by organic ecosystem expansion. This includes the growth of dApps like K Social (on-chain microblogging), gaming platforms, and tools like the Kaspa Industrial Initiative (KII) which focuses on enterprise and real-world infrastructure adoption (CoinMarketCap).

What this means: This is bullish for Kaspa as it translates technical prowess into tangible utility and network effects. Sustained growth here is critical for long-term value, as it demonstrates demand beyond speculative trading.

Conclusion

Kaspa's trajectory is clearly mapped from a high-speed, secure base layer toward a fully programmable ecosystem with mainstream adoption in sight. The sequential rollout of the covenant hardfork and DAGKNIGHT consensus aims to solve scalability and functionality in a way few PoW networks have attempted. Will Kaspa's measured, community-led execution be the key to realizing its vision as the internet-speed settlement layer?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.