Widely acclaimed as a leading PoW (Proof of Work) cryptocurrency, KAS has exceeded the anticipations of both miners and investors with its performance. In the previous year, the Kaspa network experienced an extraordinary increase in its computing power, leaping from 400 TH/s to an impressive 94 PH/s, marking an increase of approximately 23,400%.
Concurrently, the price of KAS went up from $0.008 to $0.14, translating to a mega 1,650% growth. This surge in value and network strength has propelled KAS into the top 30 cryptocurrencies, outperforming established names like CFX, ZEC, and RVN in market capitalization.
We look into the Kaspa network and its native KAS token to understand its basics, and whether it is the next breakthrough of the crypto world or just another L1 that will struggle with finding utility and demand from the blockchain community.
How to get KAS?
KAS currently holds the seventh position in market cap among PoW cryptocurrencies, trailing behind veterans such as BTC, DOGE, LTC, BCH, XMR, and ETC. Despite being operational for just two years, KAS does indeed demontrate a promising future with potential for breakthroughs and diverse applications.
For enthusiasts looking to acquire KAS, options include direct purchasing on major trading platforms by following how to buy KAS instructions or mining. With the increasing hashrate of KAS, mining operations are evolving, integrating more sophisticated ASIC miners. Consequently, mining KAS effectively requires strategic planning, knowledge and a budget, which automatically makes purchasing KAS on a crypto exchange a more cost-effective option.
How does KASPA work?
Kaspa’s operational mechanism sets it apart from traditional blockchains. Utilizing the GHOSTDAG protocol, it allows simultaneous block creation within a parallel structure, maintaining consensus while ensuring secure and rapid block production.
Kaspa, currently functioning at one block per second, aims to scale up to 10 or even 100 blocks per second, showcasing its superior scalability compared to many other blockchain networks.
Kaspa incorporates several features enhancing its robustness and user-friendliness. These include the ability to explore the DAG’s structure, block data reduction, and plans for future block header pruning. Additionally, it utilizes Simple Payment Verification (SPV) proofs for efficient transaction validation. The network also supports subnetworks, facilitating layer 2 solutions and thereby boosting functionality and scalability.
Here are some key aspects of Kaspa L1:
- Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) Structure: Unlike traditional blockchains that use a linear, sequential chain of blocks, Kaspa employs a DAG structure. This allows for multiple chains to exist simultaneously, leading to higher scalability and faster transaction speeds.
- GHOSTDAG Protocol: Kaspa is built on the GHOSTDAG (Greedy Heaviest Observed SubTree Directed Acyclic Graph) protocol. This protocol enables the network to reach consensus quickly and efficiently, even in the presence of multiple, concurrent blocks.
- Scalability and Speed: Thanks to its DAG structure and the GHOSTDAG protocol, Kaspa can process a larger number of transactions per second compared to traditional blockchains. This makes it particularly suitable for high-throughput applications.
- Decentralization and Security: Despite its high scalability and speed, Kaspa aims to maintain a high level of decentralization and security, which are crucial aspects of any blockchain technology.
- Community-Driven Development: Kaspa’s development and growth are often community-driven, relying on contributions from developers and enthusiasts within the cryptocurrency space.
- Use Cases: Given its scalability and speed, Kaspa could be well-suited for applications that require fast and frequent transactions, like micro-transactions, decentralized finance (DeFi), and other blockchain-based applications.
Mining and Consensus: Kaspa employs a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, which involves miners using computational power to validate transactions and secure the network. However, the specifics can vary and should be verified with the most recent technical documentation.
Tokenomics and team
Kaspa’s monetary policy is particularly distinctive. Adopting a geometric emission reduction inspired by the 12-note musical scale, it decreases block rewards in alignment with the frequencies of successive semitones in a tempered chromatic scale. The initial block reward corresponds to the frequency of the note A4, halving annually. Interesting, right?
The blockchain originated from the R&D company DAGLabs, with initial investment from PolyChain. It has since evolved into a community-driven project without central governance. Its founder, Yonatan Sompolinsky, a Postdoc at Harvard University and part of the MEV Research Team, is renowned for his influential work in blockchain, including a 2013 paper on the Ghost protocol referenced in Ethereum’s Whitepaper. The development team comprises experts like Shai Wyborski, Michael Sutton, Mike Zak, Elichai Turkel, and Ori Newman.
The Kaspa tokenomics, shaped by its blockDAG architecture and rapid block rate, aims for decentralized mining and efficient solo mining at lower hash rates. Launched in November 2021 without any pre-mine or pre-sales, Kaspa has a maximum supply of 28.7 billion coins. Its emission follows a yearly halving pattern with smooth monthly reductions.
At present, KAS trades around $0.14, showing a 50% increase over the past day and an astonishing 74,000% rise since its launch in July of the previous year, as per Gate.io data.
Should you buy KAS?
In the world of crypto only those tokens survive that have expansive utility use cases. Kaspa token has been around for quite some time now, and you won’t be blamed by thinking that it is a long enough time for a coin to prove its worth. With this in mind, let’s take a look at what KAS is used for to complete our investigation:
Transaction Fees: KAS tokens are used to pay for transaction fees on the Kaspa network. This is a common use case for native tokens in blockchain ecosystems, as it incentivizes miners or validators to process transactions.
Network Security: In blockchain networks that use Proof-of-Work (PoW) or similar consensus mechanisms, the native token often plays a role in network security. Miners may earn KAS tokens as a reward for validating transactions and adding them to the blockchain, thereby securing the network.
Decentralized Governance: KAS tokens might be used in the governance of the Kaspa network, allowing token holders to participate in decision-making processes regarding network upgrades or changes. This aspect depends heavily on the governance model adopted by the Kaspa community.
Incentivization: The distribution of KAS tokens can serve to incentivize various stakeholders, including developers, miners, and users, to contribute to and maintain the ecosystem.
Access to Services and Applications: Within the Kaspa ecosystem, KAS tokens might be required to access certain services or applications. This could include decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, smart contracts, or other services built on the Kaspa blockchain.
Speculative Investment: Like many cryptocurrencies, KAS tokens can also be used for speculative investment. Traders and investors might buy, hold, or sell KAS tokens based on their assessment of the project’s potential and market trends.
Medium of Exchange: In some cases, KAS tokens could be used as a medium of exchange, enabling users to transact directly with one another within the Kaspa ecosystem.
