What is Polkadot?

dYdX
What is Polkadot?What is Polkadot?

In late 2017, a little-known cryptocurrency project called Polkadot stirred up the Web3 community. After a two-week Dutch auction, early traders poured more than $140 million into the Polkadot ecosystem. To this day, Polkadot’s early funding rounds rank as some of the largest in the history of cryptocurrency, and Polkadot’s DOT cryptocurrency remains near the top of the global cryptocurrency market. In fact, the Polkadot blockchain gained an impressive market valuation of more than $4 billion in its first few days of public trading.

Learn more about what Polkadot is and why some crypto enthusiasts believe it might change the Web3 landscape. 

What is Polkadot? 

Polkadot is a cryptocurrency project that allows third-party developers to create proprietary blockchain networks called “parachains.” These parachains are like the decentralized applications (dApps) on the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain, except they offer developers greater flexibility to customize networks. Like Ethereum, programmers use Polkadot’s primary blockchain as a “base layer” to create apps offering services like decentralized finance (DeFi), video games, and non-fungible token (NFT) trading. Developers enjoy the security of Polkadot’s primary blockchain network (aka “Relay Chain”) while having the freedom to design and set the parameters for their parachain’s ecosystem.

Dr. Gavin Wood is the mastermind behind the Polkadot cryptocurrency and continues to play a pivotal role in this crypto project. Before releasing his first Polkadot white paper in 2016, Wood was a lead programmer and co-founder of the Ethereum Network. He believes Polkadot’s infrastructure solves many of the scalability issues on the Ethereum blockchain, especially high gas fees and slow transaction speeds.

Web3 Foundation, a nonprofit organization, manages Polkadot’s funding, while London-based Parity Technologies builds and maintains Polkadot’s software. After multiple funding rounds, Polkadot launched in 2020, and today the blockchain’s DOT cryptocurrency is available on many centralized cryptocurrency exchanges (CEXs) and decentralized exchanges (DEXs)

What is the Purpose of Polkadot? 

Polkadot has many proposed goals, but most center around a concept called “blockchain interoperability.” Basically, interoperability means bridging the gaps—or connecting the dots—between different cryptocurrency networks. Currently, each cryptocurrency has distinct, self-contained coding standards and rules that don’t translate to other blockchain networks. For example, using a Solana dApp with an Ethereum-only wallet is impossible, and vice versa. And Polkadot aims to solve this problem by creating a platform where various blockchains can seamlessly speak to each other and transfer value. The cryptocurrency is building “cross-chain bridges” between its ecosystem and other blockchains like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum to create an interconnected Web3 world. 

How Does Polkadot Work? 

Polkadot uses a complex “dual-blockchain” system to achieve its ambitious vision of an interoperable crypto community. Its Relay Chain is the protocol’s primary hub for broadcasting, executing, and recording transactions. The Relay Chain uses a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus model, meaning computers on the network (aka nodes) need to stake a set amount of DOT to verify crypto transactions. Whenever the Relay Chain’s algorithm chooses a validator to confirm transfers, they receive DOT rewards in their account. Validators can also use their DOT to vote on improvement proposals to influence the Polkadot blockchain’s future.

Parachains form the second crucial part of Polkadot’s architecture. Although they enjoy the Relay Chain’s security, they’re private blockchains within the broader Polkadot ecosystem. Polkadot allows each parachain to create independent on-chain governance procedures, consensus models, and token issuance schedules to best suit their needs. However, third-party developers can’t immediately start building Polkadot parachains––anyone who opens a parachain needs special permission. To decide which projects can establish a parachain, Polkadot holds “parachain slot auctions” every few months. DOT holders stake their digital coins to vote on promising crypto projects they want to see on the Polkadot blockchain. Developers who win the auction get to “lease” a parachain for a maximum of two years before participating in the auction again.

Often, the projects most likely to get a parachain slot have a positive track record on Polkadot’s sister blockchain, Kusama. Launched in 2019, Kusama is almost identical to the Polkadot blockchain in structure but is primarily for developers rather than crypto traders. People interested in building on Polkadot “test the waters” on Kusama before formally applying for an auction. 

What is the Polkadot Coin Used for?

Polkadot’s DOT cryptocurrency helps preserve the network’s Relay Chain via the blockchain’s PoS consensus system. Anyone who locks their DOT on the Relay Chain can broadcast transactions and receive DOT rewards. The more nodes join the Relay Chain, the greater decentralization and security it provides to the entire Polkadot network.

In addition to staking, DOT coins double as votes for on-chain governance proposals and auctions. Everyone in the Polkadot community can stake their DOT for or against proposed on-chain decisions and projects vying for parachains. This way, DOT helps decentralize the decision-making process for critical upgrades and protocol changes.

The third use of DOT coins is to pay for gas fees on the Polkadot network. Like other blockchains, Polkadot charges fees whenever people transfer DOT on the Relay Chain or in parachain projects. These DOT fees go back to the blockchain’s validators as a form of compensation. Although Polkadot’s fees fluctuate depending on network congestion, average costs are typically equal to a few pennies per transaction.

Outside of Polkadot’s ecosystem, the DOT coin is popular with traders in the cryptocurrency market. Because Polkadot is a mainstream crypto project, it’s easier for retail and institutional traders to buy, sell, or swap DOT on CEXs and DEXs.

Can Anyone Stake on Polkadot?

When new traders learn about Polkadot staking, they often ask whether they can earn DOT staking rewards. In reality, only people with a considerable amount of DOT meet Polkadot’s requirements to become a validator. The minimum staking requirement for validators constantly fluctuates, but the most recent rate is more than 1,690,000 DOT (or approximately $11 million at current prices).

For those who don’t have the capital or lack the technical know-how to run a Polkadot validator node, it’s possible to nominate (aka delegate) a minimum of 100 DOT to earn staking rewards. Polkadot nominators send their DOT coins to a validator and receive a portion of the crypto staking rewards. People interested in nominating their DOT connect a Polkadot-compatible wallet like polkadot{.js} or Enkrypt to the Polkadot Staking Dashboard and send their DOT to a validator. Alternatively, some crypto exchanges, wallets, and DeFi protocols offer third-party DOT staking services. For example, the Ledger hardware wallet offers DOT staking services. 

Eligible Traders can Trade Polkadot Perpetuals on dYdX 

dYdX offers eligible traders dozens of crypto perpetual contracts—including Polkadot—on our decentralized exchange. If you want to open a long or short position on an altcoin like DOT, you can access plenty of trading order types and controls with a dYdX account. To learn how trading perpetuals on dYdX works and more about our platform, check out our blog. And head to our Academy for more educational content about crypto. We have dozens of easy-to-understand pieces on topics such as smart contracts, market cap, and double spending.     

Interested in trading perpetuals for Polkadot? Eligible traders can start trading on dYdX today!

Legitimacy and Disclaimer

© 2025 dYdX International Ltd. All rights reserved.

dYdX is a decentralised, disintermediated and permissionless protocol, and is not available in the U.S. or to U.S. persons as well as for Restricted Persons as set out in the dYdX Software Terms of Use, accessible: https://dydx.exchange/v4-terms. dYdX International Ltd (“DI”) does not develop, control or participate in the operation of any component of the dYdX Protocol (including the MegaVault).

The information provided in this website is for general informational purposes only and DI reserves the right to update, modify, or amend any contents herein, at its sole discretion and without prior notice.  Nothing herein should be used or considered as legal, financial, tax, or any other advice, nor as an instruction or invitation to act in any way by anyone.

Engaging in any activity involving crypto-assets (including trading crypto assets and depositing into the MegaVault) is risky due to high volatility. Returns are not guaranteed and may fluctuate over time depending on multiple factors, and you may lose your entire investment, particularly when using leverage. Investment into crypto-assets may not be regulated and may not be suitable for retail investors. You should perform your own research and due diligence before engaging in any activity involving crypto-assets.

In no event will DI be liable for any loss or damage, including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, arising from or in connection with the use of this website. By continuing to access this website, you agree to the above and accept the possibility of changes in the information provided.

dYdX is a decentralised, disintermediated and permissionless protocol, and is not available in the U.S. or to U.S. persons as well as for Restricted Persons as set out in the dYdX Software Terms of Use, accessible: https://dydx.exchange/v4-terms. dYdX International Ltd (including its affiliates, "DI") does not develop, control or participate in the operation of any component of the dYdX Protocol (including the MegaVault).

The information provided in this website is for general informational purposes only and DI reserves the right to update, modify, or amend any contents herein, at its sole discretion and without prior notice.  Nothing herein should be used or considered as legal, financial, tax, or any other advice, nor as an instruction or invitation to act in any way by anyone.

Engaging in any activity involving crypto-assets (including trading crypto assets and depositing into the MegaVault) is risky due to high volatility. Returns are not guaranteed and may fluctuate over time depending on multiple factors, and you may lose your entire investment, particularly when using leverage. Investment into crypto-assets may not be regulated and may not be suitable for retail investors. You should perform your own research and due diligence before engaging in any activity involving crypto-assets.

In no event will DI be liable for any loss or damage, including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, arising from or in connection with the use of this website. By continuing to access this website, you agree to the above and accept the possibility of changes in the information provided.

Leaving site

By clicking ‘Continue’, you will be leaving https://www.dydx.xyz/ and accessing a website made available by a third party using dYdX v4 open-source software that is independent from and unaffiliated with dYdX International Ltd (“DI”). DI does not deploy or run dYdX v4 open-source software for public use, nor does it operate or control any or all parts of the infrastructure. DI is not responsible for any actions taken by independent third parties or for any codes, materials and contents on any third-party websites, including the one you would access by clicking ‘Continue’.

DI’s contents and services are not available to persons who are residents of, are located or incorporated in, or have a registered office in the U.S., Canada or any Restricted Persons as set out in the dYdX v4 open-source software Terms of Use, accessible here.  More details can be found in our Terms of Use. Learn more about dYdX v4 third-party front end options here.