KAS Kaspa Rank #81

Kaspa is a proof-of-work Layer 1 blockchain that was fair-launched in November 2021 with no pre-mine, no pre-sale, and no coin allocations, making it entirely community-managed. Rather than relying on a traditional linear chain, Kaspa uses a BlockDAG architecture paired with its GHOSTDAG consensus protocol, which allows multiple blocks to be created and ordered in parallel. This design enables block production rates significantly faster than other proof-of-work networks, with confirmation times limited mainly by network latency. The project combines Bitcoin-style security principles with high throughput, aiming to function as a global sequencer for both decentralized finance and traditional financial applications. Its roadmap includes smart contract functionality through based-rollups, a pruning subprotocol for managing block data size, SPV proofs for lightweight verification, and future subnetwork support intended to simplify Layer 2 deployment. Additional features include Reachability, a query system for navigating the DAG's topology, and ongoing work on block header pruning. Kaspa is a USA-based project built around decentralization, fast block times, and a security threshold tied to substantial market hashrate, with the stated goal of realizing the original vision of a peer-to-peer digital medium of exchange.