Polkadot price (DOT)

Price in CZK

24h change

Market Capitalization 1.45B USD

Circulating Supply 1,696,646,811

Maximum Supply 2,100,000,000

Polkadot (DOT)

Polkadot is a blockchain platform focused on connecting multiple blockchains into a single, secure, and scalable network. The project is a key player in building a multichain future and a foundation for the Web3 ecosystem. The network’s native token, DOT, is used for network governance, staking, and onboarding new parachains. Polkadot combines strong security, interoperability, and the ability to upgrade quickly without the need for hard forks.

Use Cases

The DOT token has three main functions:

Governance – DOT holders participate in network governance and approve changes,
Staking – Validators and nominators secure the network and ensure its operation,
Connecting parachains – Slots for attaching independent blockchains (parachains) are allocated through public auctions.

Polkadot uses an inflationary model of approximately 10% annually to incentivize active staking and maintain network stability.

History and Origins

Polkadot is developed by the Web3 Foundation, led by Gavin Wood — co-founder of Ethereum and creator of the Solidity programming language. Another co-founder is Robert Habermeier. The first draft of Polkadot was published in a white paper in 2016, and the network officially launched in 2020.

How Does Polkadot Work?

Polkadot’s architecture consists of several key components:

Relay Chain – The main chain that coordinates security and communication between all connected blockchains (parachains),
Parachains – Independent, specialized blockchains connected to the Relay Chain, obtaining their slots through auctions,
Parathreads – Pay-as-you-go blockchains that connect to the network when needed,
Bridges – Connections that allow interoperability with other blockchain networks (e.g., Ethereum, Bitcoin).

Polkadot uses its own framework, Polkadot SDK (formerly known as Substrate), which allows the network to be upgraded without requiring hard forks. The network underwent a major modernization in 2024 with the launch of the OpenGov governance model, enabling faster and fully decentralized voting by DOT holders. Polkadot also expanded its cross-chain capabilities through the XCM v3 protocol, which facilitates secure data and token transfers between different parachains.

Another innovation is the introduction of Parallel Staking, enabling more efficient use of staked tokens across the network.

Since December 2021, parachain slot auctions have been ongoing, resulting in dozens of active projects on Polkadot across DeFi, gaming, and Web3 identity sectors.

How Is Polkadot Different from Its Competitors?

Polkadot’s main competitor is Cosmos:

Cosmos enables the creation of independent blockchains with greater autonomy but lacks shared security.
Polkadot emphasizes pooled security, where all connected parachains benefit from the Relay Chain’s security.
Polkadot allows democratic network upgrades without hard forks, whereas Cosmos typically relies on independent upgrades.

Thus, Polkadot offers a connected, secure, and scalable ecosystem ideal for building the next generation of decentralized applications.

Sources

Websites

Official website

Whitepaper

Blockchain explorer

Socials

Polkadot and what people ask most:

Does Polkadot have a maximum coin supply?

No. Polkadot has an unlimited coin supply but uses an inflationary model to encourage staking and maintain liquidity within the ecosystem.

How do parachain slot auctions work?

To connect to the Polkadot network, projects must compete in an auction for a slot on the Relay Chain. Projects with the highest support from the community — who lock their DOT tokens in favor of a specific project — win the slots.

What is a parachain on Polkadot?

A parachain is an independent blockchain connected to Polkadot’s main Relay Chain. Each parachain can have its own focus, rules, and applications, but shares security with the rest of the network.

Few of our numbers

2014

Our founding year. In crypto,
one decade is a small eternity.

€4 B

The volume we managed to trade so far.

120 k+

People from all over the world put their trust in us. Thank you.