Kusama

Kusama (KSM) is a proof-of-stake Layer 1 network that runs nearly the same code as Polkadot and serves as its "canary network," where new features go live first with real economic value at stake. Since a 2025 governance vote, Kusama has been repositioned as an experiment-centric peer network of Polkadot with a focus on zero-knowledge technology.

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What Is Kusama?

Kusama (ticker KSM) is a public, proof-of-stake blockchain network built on nearly the same codebase as Polkadot. It launched in 2019 as Polkadot's "canary network": a live chain where new code ships first and runs with real economic value before it is deployed on Polkadot itself. Unlike a typical testnet, Kusama has a real token, real staking, and real governance, so problems surface under genuine economic conditions. The community's unofficial motto, "expect chaos," captures the idea that Kusama trades polish for speed and radical experimentation.

Overview - Table of Contents
What Is Kusama?
Getting Started With Kusama
How To Get A Kusama Wallet?
Kusama Resources
How To Buy Kusama?
Latest Kusama News

Kusama was founded by Dr. Gavin Wood, a co-founder of Ethereum and the creator of the Solidity language, together with his Polkadot co-founders Peter Czaban and Robert Habermeier. The network was launched by the Web3 Foundation in August 2019, with core development led by Parity Technologies. KSM was initially distributed one-to-one to participants in the original Polkadot (DOT) token sale, and token transfers went live later in 2019.

Technically, Kusama mirrors Polkadot's architecture. A central relay chain, secured by nominated proof-of-stake, provides shared security and finality for a set of connected blockchains. Validators stake KSM to produce and finalize blocks, and KSM holders can nominate validators to earn a share of staking rewards. Because Kusama's governance moves on faster timelines and its community accepts more risk, runtime upgrades typically go live on Kusama weeks or months before they reach Polkadot.

That canary role has shaped most of Polkadot's biggest changes. OpenGov, the fully on-chain governance system that removed the old council and committee structure in favor of direct, continuous referenda by token holders, launched on Kusama in late 2022 before arriving on Polkadot in 2023. Similarly, Agile Coretime went live on Kusama first in 2024, replacing the old parachain slot auctions, in which projects had to lock large amounts of tokens for long lease periods, with a flexible marketplace where teams buy blockspace in bulk or on demand using KSM.

KSM launched with an initial supply of about 10 million tokens and inflates at roughly 10 percent per year, with no maximum supply; circulating supply passed 18 million KSM by 2026. New issuance funds staking rewards and the on-chain treasury. The token is used for transaction fees, staking, voting in OpenGov, and purchasing coretime. A 2025 governance proposal to cap KSM's supply at 21 million and step down issuance was rejected by referendum, so the inflationary model remains in place.

Kusama's role is also evolving beyond pure canary duty. In early 2025, Kusama governance passed a Web3 Foundation proposal (referendum 498) to deploy 10 million DOT over at least two years for Kusama's benefit, to build the network into a major experimentation hub for zero-knowledge (ZK) technology, and to recognize Kusama as an "experiment-centric peer network" of Polkadot rather than merely its testing ground. The initiative funds bounties for ZK development, proof-of-personhood identity experiments, and art and social experiments. Kusama has also gained Ethereum-compatible smart contracts on Kusama Hub, a system chain where developers can deploy with familiar tools such as Remix, Hardhat, and MetaMask.

Getting Started With Kusama

Getting started with Kusama usually means holding KSM for staking and governance, or experimenting with the network as a builder:

Step 1: Set up a wallet that supports the Kusama network, such as Nova Wallet, Talisman, or SubWallet.
Step 2: Acquire KSM on an exchange and withdraw it to your own wallet address.
Step 3: Stake your KSM by nominating validators, either directly or through nomination pools, to earn staking rewards.
Step 4: Take part in OpenGov by voting on referenda, or explore the experimental side of the network, from ZK bounties to deploying smart contracts on Kusama Hub.

How to Get a Kusama Wallet?

Kusama is supported by the same family of wallets as the wider Polkadot ecosystem, with options for mobile, browser, and hardware storage.

Nova Wallet

Nova Wallet is a popular mobile wallet for iOS and Android in the Polkadot and Kusama ecosystem, with built-in staking, governance voting, and support for ecosystem chains.

Talisman

Talisman is a browser-extension wallet designed for Polkadot and Kusama alongside Ethereum accounts, making it convenient for users who move between ecosystems.

SubWallet

SubWallet is another widely used wallet for the Polkadot SDK ecosystem, available as a browser extension and mobile app, with KSM staking and governance features.

Hardware Wallets

A Ledger device supports KSM and can be paired with ecosystem wallets to keep private keys offline. Polkadot Vault can also turn a dedicated offline phone into an air-gapped signer, which is recommended for larger, long-term holdings.

Kusama Resources

How to Buy Kusama?

KSM has traded since late 2019 and is available on many large exchanges.

Centralized Exchanges

KSM is listed on major exchanges including Binance, Kraken, KuCoin, OKX, and Gate, most commonly traded against USDT, USD, or BTC. After buying, you can withdraw KSM to your own wallet for staking and governance.

Decentralized Exchanges

Most KSM liquidity sits on centralized exchanges, but KSM can also be swapped on decentralized exchanges within the Kusama and Polkadot ecosystems. Because ecosystem DEX listings and liquidity change frequently, check a market aggregator such as CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap for currently active venues before trading.

Latest Kusama News

The defining recent event is Kusama's 2025 repositioning. Referendum 498, which opened for voting in February 2025 and passed with overwhelming support, committed 10 million DOT from the Web3 Foundation over at least two years and declared that Kusama is no longer merely a canary network but an experiment-centric peer of Polkadot. The funding is flowing into zero-knowledge technology bounties, proof-of-personhood experiments, and art and social projects, while Ethereum-compatible smart contracts have gone live on Kusama Hub.

At the same time, Kusama's long-term future remains an open community debate. A 2025 proposal to cap KSM supply at 21 million was rejected, and discussions occasionally surface about whether Kusama should one day be folded into Polkadot entirely, though no such proposal has been adopted on-chain. Because governance, tokenomics, and the network's direction can all change by referendum, the official website and the OpenGov referenda tracker are the best sources for Kusama's current state.