Deep Dive
1. Purpose and use
Kaspa is a layer 1 network: a base blockchain designed to record and secure transactions. Its native coin, KAS, is used to transfer value, pay network fees, and reward miners who help secure the network.
2. Technology
Unlike a conventional blockchain that builds one main sequence of blocks, Kaspa uses a blockDAG, which allows multiple blocks to be produced in parallel. Its GHOSTDAG protocol organizes those blocks into a consistent history rather than discarding every competing block. Kaspa reached a rate of 10 blocks per second after its May 2025 Crescendo upgrade, according to CoinMarketCap.
3. KAS distribution and programmability
Kaspa launched in November 2021 without a premine or presale; new KAS enters circulation through mining. The June 30, 2026 Toccata upgrade added programmable rules called covenants to the base layer, allowing transactions to follow specified conditions. These features may support more applications, though they do not by themselves guarantee a mature app ecosystem (CoinMarketCap).
Conclusion
Kaspa is a proof of work payment network that combines parallel block creation with rules for ordering transactions, while expanding KAS’s role beyond transfers. How much will its new programmability broaden what people can do directly on the network?
