What is Polkadot?
Polkadot is a heterogeneous multi-chain protocol that lets independent blockchains ("parachains") interoperate while sharing a common security layer. DOT is used for staking, governance, and bonding parachain slots.
DOT · Smart Contract Platforms
Polkadot
$1.218
+0.006723(+0.56%)
As of Apr 30, 2026
Price History▼ 70.06% over 1Y
Origin & evolution
Polkadot was conceived by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood, with a whitepaper published in 2016. The relay chain launched in May 2020, followed by parachain auctions in late 2021 that allocated the first batch of Layer 1 slots on the network.
Coin details
- Type
- Smart Contract Platform
- Consensus
- Nominated Proof of Stake
- Launched
- May 2020
- Platform
- Native
- Market Cap
- $2.04B
- 24h Volume
- $155.64M
- Circulating Supply
- 1.68B DOT
- Max Supply
- 2.10B DOT
- All-Time High
- $55.005 (-97.8% from ATH)
- Whitepaper
- View →
On-chain ActivityActive addresses, transaction count, and gas burnedComing soon
Holder DistributionConcentration of supply by wallet sizeComing soon
Compare CoinsSide-by-side comparison view across two coinsComing soon