Polkadot
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What is Polkadot?
Development and architecture
Polkadot grew from Gavin Wood's design for a heterogeneous blockchain network. Web3 Foundation initiated its mainnet rollout on May 26, 2020. Parity Technologies developed the principal implementation. The relay chain coordinates security for specialized chains called parachains. These chains can process separate workloads while using the common validator system rather than assembling independent security networks.
Validation and computing capacity
Nominated Proof of Stake selects validators using their own stake and DOT backing from nominators. BABE assigns block production opportunities, while GRANDPA finalizes the resulting chain. Validators also check parachain blocks. Applications purchase coretime to access shared validation resources, with both bulk allocations and on-demand block capacity available. DOT revenue from coretime sales is burned.
Governance and issuance
OpenGov lets DOT holders vote on public referenda or delegate by proposal category. Referenda can authorize runtime changes and Treasury expenditure. Polkadot's issuance model now limits maximum supply to 2.1 billion DOT. A stepped reduction began on March 14, 2026, with issuance recalculated every two years against the remaining distance to that cap. New issuance supports staking rewards and the Treasury.
Where to trade DOT
104 exchanges · top 10
Live spot quotes from connected exchanges
DOT funding rates
Live perpetual funding on every connected exchange. Positive = longs pay shorts.
Contracts & chains
Exact contract or mint per network — the identity layer used for DEX routing.
On-chain routes
Networks with a connected DEX routing adapter.