Polkadot (DOT) is an exciting cryptocurrency that could reshape how blockchains interact with one another. Gavin Wood, who also co-founded Ethereum and Parity Technologies, created DOT. In 2016, the company raised $145 million in a record-breaking ICO.
Now, let us discuss what DOT is, how to buy DOT, and why you should buy DOT.
What is Polkadot?
The first question that comes to everyone’s mind when they hear of this crypto is– what is DOT?
Polkadot is a project spearheaded by decentralized blockchain network creator and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin that aims to enhance the scalability of blockchain technology. In simple terms, Polkadot’s goal is to make it possible for multiple blockchains to communicate with each other seamlessly.
Buterin has since left the project, but the team remains committed to building Polkadot as a sustainable platform for private and public blockchain networks.
What is a Parachain?
Now that we understand the basics of Polkadot, including its features and goals, let us dive into a more technical aspect: parachains.
Parachains are side chains that can plug into the Polkadot relay chain. They run parallel to it, giving them unique functionalities. Parachains have their consensus mechanisms and can connect directly to other parachains without going through the relay chain. That means they won’t need to pay fees or use DOT tokens for transactions.
Parachains will process the bulk of transactions in Polkadot’s ecosystem, making the system faster than if all of those transactions were processed by the relay chain. They support different applications, from smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi) to distributed storage solutions and data marketplaces.
How Polkadot is Different from Other Blockchains
Parachains work differently than other blockchains.
Most public blockchains have a single chain that stores transaction data and connects to validator nodes. When a user makes a transaction, it’s sent to the validators to be verified. Once it’s confirmed, the validators broadcast it back out to every node in the forex crm network.
The process takes place over and over, with new transactions added and stored on top of previous ones, thus forming blocks that build on a blockchain (hence their name).
Why Invest in DOT
Polkadot is a blockchain platform that aims to unify the interoperability of various blockchains, making it possible for them to link with each other. To do this, Polkadot has created parachains and parathreads. Parachains are parallel chains that can function independently while also connecting with other parachains on the Polkadot network.
Parathreads are similar to parachains but with lower security requirements and lower bandwidth. In addition, there is a central chain called the relay chain, which holds DOT (the cryptocurrency of the Polkadot blockchain) as collateral for all other chains to secure the network.
The benefit of this new way to connect blockchains is that it will enable developers to create applications using multiple existing blockchains simultaneously, creating new dapps (decentralized applications). With greater interoperability between various blockchains and their dapps, users will be able to transfer assets between different decentralized networks seamlessly—an innovation not currently available in any functioning blockchain platform.
Because DOTs are used as collateral on Polkadot’s centralized relay chain to protect all its connected chains from double-spending attacks, it requires significant amounts of DOT staking to ensure security across the entire network.
Anyone who wants their application or coin listed on any parachain on Polkadot must stake enough DOT tokens. That way, other network members can validate their app or token. They do so in exchange for DOT rewards from transaction fees or potential appreciation in value due to scarcity caused by limited supply growth over time.
How to Buy Polkadot
Before buying Polkadot, you first need to make sure that you have a cryptocurrency wallet that supports DOT. Currently, there are three wallets in which you can store your DOTs: Polkadot.js Wallet, Parity Signer, and Ledger Nano S.
Once you’ve selected your wallet of choice and created an account, you’re ready to purchase some DOT tokens.
Where to Store Polkadot (DOT)?
Once you’ve bought DOT or earned some, it’s important to find a wallet that supports the coin.
- The Polkastarter and Moonlet wallets support DOT and are web-based. So, no installation is required. However, they are less secure because they are not on your device.
- Trust Wallet, Polkaswap Wallet, and Math Wallet feature mobile applications to securely store your crypto. The first two are available for both iOS and Android devices, while Math is only available on Androids.
Ledger hardware wallets have been an industry standard since 2014 due to their unmatched security features. They’re also compatible with hundreds of cryptocurrencies in addition to DOT. That is all you need to know about DOT. For now, you can use this knowledge to buy and trade Polkadot. As you get into it, you will learn more about it along the way.
